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Accession  No.^3(^^.  ^Class  No. 


CHILDREN  OF  GOD 

AND 

UNION  WItTH   CHRIST 

.    PART  I. 

BY 

SAMUEL  B.  SCHIEFFELIN 

Writer  of    "  The   Foundations  of   History:  A  Series  of   First  Things;" 

"Milk   for   Babes;"   "Children's   Bread;"  "A   Message  to 

Ruling  Elders;"  "  Words  to  Christian  Teachers;" 

"  People's  Hymn   Book,"  Etc. 


WITH    A    PREFATORY    NOTE    BY 

REV.  JOHN  HALL,  D.D.,  NEW  YORK. 


"And  this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  may  know  Thee  the  only  true  God 
and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent."— John  17:  3. 


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OF     THE 

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PREFATORY   NOTE. 

The  "Fatherhood  of  God"  is  sometimes 
used  in  such  a  way  as  to  suggest  that  all  human 
creatures  are,  in  the  same  sense,  His  children. 
Men  are  "often  tempted,  in  view  of  our  nation 
being  called  Christian,  and  of  their  relation  to 
some  Church,  to  count  themselves  in  the  family 
of  God.  They  overlook  the  fact  that  we  are  a 
fallen  race,  and  forget  that  a  new  birth  is 
needed  in  order  to  our  being,  in  the  Bible  sense 
of  the  words.  Children  of  God. 

There  is  crying  need  for  clear  convictions 
on  this  matter — convictions  founded  on  the 
inspired  word  of  God.  To  that  word  the  writer 
appeals  from  beginning  to  end,  and  that  not 
by  collecting  detached  phrases,  but  by  present- 
ing in  their  true  connection,  the  full  and  clear 
statements  of  the  holy  oracles.  He  has  been  a 
life-long  student  of  Scripture,  as  all  who  have 
looked  into  his  many  other  books  well  know, 
and  in  this  volume  he  brings  the  Divine  light, 
in  a  reverent  spirit, to  the  readers'  mind  on  two 
of  the  gravest  questions  that  can  be  raised  : 
Am  I  a  child  of  God?  Is  Christ  a  Saviour 
whom  I  can  trust,  sinner  as  I  am  ? 

There  are  teachers  in  our  time  who  credit 
the  blessed  Master  with  all  the  elements  of 
perfection  in   His  life,  and  who  suggest  that 


^ 


men  are  saved  by  their  appreciating  and 
imitating  His  purity,  benevolence,  and  other 
virtues.  Such  appreciative  imitation  a  true 
Christian  must  cultivate,  but  he  must  not  ignore 
our  Saviour's  humiliation,  His  dying  for  the 
sins  of  His  people,  and  the  necessity  for  union 
with  Him,  in  order  to  entrance  into  the  ranks 
of  God's  children.  Jesus  is  a  matchless 
teacher,  the  Prophet  sent  of  God  ;  but  He  is  no 
less  the  Great  High  Priest,  through  whose 
offering  of  Himself  a  basis  is  laid,  on  the  ground 
of  which  a  holy  Ruler  of  the  Universe  can  be 
just  and  yet  the  justifier  of  a  sinner  who  be- 
lieves in  Jesus  and  so  is  in  union  with  Him. 

This  essential  truth  is  clearly  set  forth  in 
this  volume,  in  the  light  in  which  it  stands  out 
in  the  Old  Testament  and  in  the  New,  for  the 
types  and  predictions  of  the  one  have  their 
realization  in  the  other. 

Deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
these  doctrines,  and  the  need  of  their  being 
presented  to  all  men,  now  and  at  all  times,  I 
cannot  but  wish  for  this  book  deep  and  prayer- 
ful study  by  many.  I  can  vouch  for  its 
harmony  with  scripture,  not  simply  from  my 
knowledge  of  the  writer,  but  from  having  read 
it,  and  been  so  impressed  by  its  truthfulness 
and  its  timeliness  as  to  ask  the  privilege  of 
writing  these  prefatory  paragraphs.  It  will,  I 
trust,  be  a  blessing  to  many. 

JOHN   HALL. 


INDEX.— Part  I, 


Page 

Introduction 5 

All  Men  are  Sinners  and  are  Lost 1 1 

Death  and  Hell  14 

Men  cannot  find  God  by  their  Reason 21 

Not  Saved  by  Believing  in  a  Church 24 

Union  of  the  Church 28 

Sins  of  the  Church  before  Christ  came ....  32 

The  Jews 36 

Errors  in  the  Church  since  Christ  came —  43 

The  Way  of  Salvation 60 

Special  calls  of  God 71 

God  commandeth  all  men  everywhere   to 

repent 77 

Children  of  God  bom  again S6 

Children  of  God  created  anew 90 

Children  of  God  made  alive  from  the  dead .  92 
Children  of  God  chosen  by  Him  before  the 

foundation  of  the  world 94 

Faith  and  Good  Works 98 

The  Children  of    God    have    everlasting 

life  now 1 06 

The  Children  of  God  Witnesses  for  Christ. .  no 

The  Children  of  God  must  grow, ..,,,.,..  114 


ERRATA. 

Page  20— 15th  line:    }'<;«  ;/^/ should  read  You  do  not. 
Page  47— 2d  line  from   bottom  :   ovine   should   read 

wine. 
Page  90  -  4th  line  :  in  one  should  read  in  me. 
Page  97 — next  to  bottom  line  :  ///  thing  should  read 

in  the  thing . 
Page  100 — 15th   line:    delivered  from   should   read 

delivered  me  from. 
Page  112 — last  line  :  head  should  read  heart. 
Page  116— bottom  line:  Colasse  should  read  Co  loss  e. 
Page  117 — i2th   line:    delivered  from    should   read 

delivered  us  from. 
Page  120 — loth  line  from  bottom:  comfor  should  read 

comfort. 
Page  159— 5th  line  from  bottom  :  loyal  should  read 

royal. 
Page  189 — 8th  line  from  bottom  :  commandeth  should 

read  commanded. 
Page  191 — top  line  :  me  should  read  men. 
Page  202 — 12th  line  from  bottom:  snd  should   read 

and. 
Page  223 — 15th  line  from  bottom  :  tiame  should  read 

name's . 
Page  226— 3d  line  from  bottom  :  snail  should   read 

shall. 
Page  227— 9th  line  from  bottom  :  spitit   should  read 

spirit. 
Page  227— 5th  line  from  bottom  :   heritance   should 

read  inheritance. 
Page  234 — 15th    line  :    incircumcision    should    read 

ujtcircumcision . 
Page  235 — 15th  line  from  top  :  father  should   read 

Father. 
Page  245 — i6th  line  :  r.Co  should  read  Cor. 
Page  249 — 4th   line  :  not  forsake   should    read    nor 

forsake. 


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INTRODUCTION. 

••Ye  do  err.  not  knowing  the  Scriptures  "  (Matt.  22:  29). 

Many,  even  of  the  children  of  God,  think  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  having  left  this  world 
eighteen  hundred  years  ago,  and  as  being  now 
in  heaven,  as  our  advocate  ;  and  do  not  realise 
"that  all  power  is  given  unto  Him  in  heaven  and 
in  earth"  (Matt.  28:  18).  "Angels  and  authorities 
being  made  subject  unto  Him  "  (i  Pet.  3:  22). 
"  And  by  Him  all  things  consist.  And  He  is 
the  Head  of  the  body  of  the  Church"  (Col.  1:17) 
And  He  is  "  Faf  above  all  principality,  and 
power,  and  might,  and  dominion,  and  every 
name  that  is  named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but 
also  in  that  which  is  to  come  :  and  hath  put  all 
things  under  His  feet,  and  gave  Him  to  be  the 
Head  of  all  things  to  the  Church,  which  is  His 
body,  the  fulness  of  Him  that  fiUeth  all  in  all  " 
(Eph.  i:  20).  They  do  not  realise  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  omnipotent,  omniscient  and 
omnipresent,  has  been  ever  since  His  ascension, 
and  is  now,  with  His  Church  ;  and  has  a  living 
union  with  every  individual  believer  in  Him. 
He  says,  **Where  two  or  three  are  gathered  to- 
gether in  My  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of 
them  "  (Matt.  18  :  20).  Few  believe  this ;  if 
more   did,  prayer   meetings  of  two   or  three 


6  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

Christians  meeting  in  His  name,  would  be  more 
appreciated.  "  Again,  I  say  unto  you,  That  if 
two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching 
anything  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done 
for  them  of  My  Father  that  is  in  heaven " 
(Matt.  i8:  19).  "Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  My 
name  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father  may  be 
glorified  in  the  Son  "  (John  14  :  13).  This  He 
repeats  again  and  again  (John  15:  7,  16;  John 
16  :  23,  26).  Reader,  do  you  believe  these 
promises  ?  He  commanded  His  disciples,  "  Go 
ye,  therefore,  and  make  disciples  of  all  the 
nations,  and  lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world  "  (Matt.  28:  19).  "So  then, 
after  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  them.  He  was 
received  up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right 
hand  of  God.  And  they  went  forth,  and 
preached  everywhere,  the  Lord  working  with 
them,  and  confirming  the  Word  with  signs  fol- 
lowing "  (Mark  16:  19).  If  preachers  and  Chris: 
tians  trying  to  bring  souls  to  Christ  believed 
this,  they  would  realise  His  presence  with  them; 
and  have  His  Almighty  power  working  with 
them,  confirming  the  Word.  After  His  ascen- 
sion, Christ  was  with  the  Apostles  according  to 
His  promise.  Where  the  word  Lord  appears 
in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  it  refers  to  th^ 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  "  The  Lord  added  to  them 
day  by  day  those  that  were  being  saved " 
(Acts  2:  47).  Paul  asked,  "Who  art  Thou, 
Lord  ?  And  the  Lord  said,  I  am  Jesus  whom 
thou  persecutest  "  (Acts  9:  4,  5;  18:  9).     In  the 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

letters  to  the  churches,  in  the  second  and  third 
chapters  of  the  Revelation,  we  are  expressly- 
told  that  Jesus  walks  among  the  churches,  and 
notices  all  their  good  works  and  all  their  errors 
in  doctrine  and  practice;  and,  what  should  give 
us  great  comfort,  He  knows  the  trials  and 
troubles  of  every  individual  member  in  every 
church  ;  and  even  the  poor  widow's  mite  is 
noticed  by  Him. 

The  Bible  from  the  beginning  of  the  first 
chapter  of  Genesis,  to  the  end  of  the  last  chap- 
ter of  Revelation,  is  one  Book;  and  is  to  be  read 
and  studied  as  one  book  ;  as  the  Word  of  God  ; 
revealing  God,  through  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
"In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word 
was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God."  "  And 
the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us  " 
(John  i:  I,  14).  The  Bible  tells  us  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  not  only  was  made  flesh  for 
us,  but  also  that  He  takes  our  sins,  and  gives 
us  His  righteousness.  "For  He  hath  made  Him 
to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin,  that  we  might 
be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  Him" 
(2  Cor.  5:  21).  "Who  his  o\vn  self  bare  our  sins 
in  His  own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we,  being 
dead  to  sin  should  live  unto  righteousness" 
(i  Peter  2  :  24).  He  took  on  Him  our  death, 
and  gives  us  His  everlasting  life.  "I  give  unto 
them  eternal  life  "  (John  10  :  28).  "Because  I 
live,  ye  shall  live  also  "  (John  14:  19). 
on  Him  our  human  nature,  and  makes 
takers  of  His  Divine  nature.    "As  thou 


8  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

art  in  Me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they,  also,  may  be 
one  in  us  "  (John  17:  21). 

It  is  not  surprising  that  the  deluded  followers 
of  the  Church  of  Rome  are  ignorant  of  the  way 
of  salvation.  Being  forbidden  to  read  the  Bible, 
it  is  to  them  a  sealed  book  ;  but  it  is  a  sad  fact 
that  many  who  are  connected  with  Protestant 
churches,  instead  of  studying  the  Scriptures, 
read  only  such  parts  as  suit  them.  The  conse- 
quence is  they  are  ignorant  of  many  of  the 
plain  teachings  of  the  Bible;  and  because  of 
their  ignorance  of  the  Bible,  they  have  little 
faith;  and  do  not  possess  that  joy,  and  peace, 
which  come  through  believing.  Ask  many  pro- 
fessing Christians  if  they  believe  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ?  And  they  will  without  hesita- 
tion reply.  Yes.  Ask  them.  If  you  are  called 
away  to  night,  are  you  sure  that  you  would  go 
to  heaven  ?  They  will  hesitate,  and  probably 
reply,  I  hope  so.  Ask  them.  Why  they  are  not 
sure  ?  They  have  doubts  whether  they  are 
good  enough.  They  think  it  presumption  and 
self-righteousness  in  those  who  answer  such 
questions  with,  Yes,  for  I  have  Christ's  word  for 
it.  They  are  ignorant  of,  or  do  not  believe,  the 
words  of  Christ  regarding  those  who  believe  in 
Him.  He  hath  said,  "He  that  believeth  on  the 
Son  hath  everlasting  life  "  (John  3:  36).  "Hath 
everlasting  life,  and  shall  not  come  into  con- 
demnation; but  is  passed  from  death  into  life  " 
(Johns:  24).  "Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
he  that  believeth  on  Me  hath  everlasting  life  " 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

(John  6  :  47).  The  Word  of  God  says,  "  Whoso- 
ever believe th  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ  is  begot- 
ten of  God."  "He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  of 
God  hath  the  witness  in  Him:  he  that  believeth 
not  God  hath  made  Him  a  liar;  because  he  hath 
not  believed  in  the  witness  that  God  hath 
borne  concerning  His  Son.  And  the  witness  is 
this,  that  God  gave  unto  us  eternal  life,  and 
this  life  is  in  His  Son.  He  that  hath  the  Son 
hath  the  life;  he  that  hath  not  the  Son  of  God 
hath  not  the  life.  These  things,  have  I  written 
unto  you,  that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have 
eternal  life,  even  unto  you  that  believe  on  the 
name  of  the  Son  of  God  "  (I  John  5:  i,  10). 

The  following  pages  are  written,  that  be- 
lievers in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  know  that 
they  are  children  of  God;  having  now,  everlast- 
ing life;  and,  therefore,  they  are  told,  "Grow  in 
the  grace  and  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ"  (II  Peters:  18).  And 
they  are  told  how  to  grow.  '*  As  new-bom  babes, 
desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  Word,  that  ye 
may  grow  thereby"  (I  Peter  2:2). 

Owing  to  the  unfaithfulness  of  the  elders  or 
bishops,  many  flocks  have  been  scattered  and 
lost.  As  Paul  told  the  elders  of  the  Church  of 
Ephesus  should  happen  to  that  church 
(Acts  20:  28). 

There  is  a  lamentable  ignorance  of  the  Bible 
and  its  plain  teachings  among  professing  Chris- 
tians. Many  do  not  believe  what  the  Bible  says 
about  the  condition  of  all  men  by  nature;  about 


lO  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

the  only  way  of  salvation ;  and  that  a  believer  is 
saved.  They  do  not  believe  what  is  written  in 
the  following  pages.  Although  nearly  all  of 
them  are  extracts  from  the  Bible.  It  will  be 
well,  for  any  who  may  read  them,  to  stop  now 
and  then,  and  ask  themselves,  Does  the  Word  of 
God  say  this  ?    Do  I  believe  it  ? 


ALL    MEN    AR£    SINNERS.  II 


ALL  MEN  ARE  SINNERS  AND  ARE 
LOST. 

**  There  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one."  Rom. 
3:  10. 

In  the  Bible  we  are  told  that,  "Jehovah  looked 
down  from  heaven  upon  the  children  of  men,  to 
see  if  there  were  any  that  did  understand,  and 
seek  God.  They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are 
altogether  become  filthy:  there  is  none  that 
doeth  good,  no,  not  one"  (Psm.  14:  2).  "We 
are  all  as  an  unclean  thing,  and  all  our  righteous- 
nesses are  as  filthy  rags  ;  and  we  all  do  fade  as 
a  leaf ;  and  our  iniquities,  like  the  wind,  have 
taken  us  away  "  (Isai.  64:  6).  "  The  carnal  mind 
is  enmity  against  God  :  for  it  is  not  subject  to 
the  law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  be.  So  then 
they  that  are  in  the  flesh  cannot  please  God  " 
(Rom.  8:  7).  "The  natural  man  receiveth  not 
the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God :  for  they  are 
foolishness  unto  him:  neither  can  he  know  them, 
because  they  are  spiritually  discerned  "  ( i  Cor. 
2:14).  "  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things, 
and  desperately  wicked "  (Jer.  17:  10).  "From 
within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men,  proceed  evil 
thoughts,  adulteries,  fornications,  murders, 
thefts,  covetousness,  wickedness,  deceit,  lascivi- 
ousness,  an  evil  eye,  blasphemy,  pride,  foolish- 
ness "  (Mark  7:  21).     "As  it  is  written,  There  is 


12  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

none  righteous,  no,  not  one  :  there  is  none  that 
understandeth,  there  is  none  that  seeketh  after 
God.     They  are  all  gone  out  of  the  way,  they 
are  together  become  unprofitable;  there  is  none 
that  doeth  good,  no,  not  one"   (Rom.  3:   10). 
"  By  the  deeds  of  the  law  there  shall  no  flesh  be 
justified  in  His  sight."    "  For  all  have  sinned 
and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God"  (Rom.  3: 
20,  23).     Every  man  by  nature  is  born  a  rebel, 
and  continues  in  rebellion  against  God  until  he 
is  converted.    As  a  creature,  he  owes  every 
instant  love  and  obedience  to  his  Creator.     He 
is  adding  to  his  indebtedness  to  God  every  mo- 
ment o£  his  existence.     He  can  never  pay  any 
portion  of  that  debt.     His  only  hope  is  the  for- 
giveness of  sin  in  the  way  appointed  by  God, 
through  repentance  and  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.     "  He  that  believeth  not,  is  condemned 
already"  (John  3:  18).     "  He  that  believeth  not 
the  Son,  shall  not  see  life:  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him"  (John  3:  36). 

None  realise  what  they  were  by  nature,  more 
than  the  children  of  God  do,  when  they  are  born 
again.  Paul  tells  the  "Saints  in  Ephesus," 
"And  you  hath  He  quickened,  who  were  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins;  wherein  in  time  past  ye 
walked  according  to  the  course  of  this  world, 
according  to  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air, 
the  spirit  that  now  worketh  in  the  children  of 
disobedience ;  *  ♦  *  and  were  by  nature  the 
children  of  wrath,  even  as  others"  (Eph.  2:  i, 
3).     And  Paul,  speaking  of  himself,  says,  '*This 


ALL    MEN    ARE    SINNERS.  I3 

is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  accep- 
tation, that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world  to 
save  sinners;  of  whom  I  am  chief"  (i  Tim.  i: 
15).  *'  God  commendeth  His  love  toward  us,  in 
that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for 
us"  (Rom.  5:  8).  Reader,  do  you  believe  what 
God  says  is  the  state  of  every  man  by  nature  ? 
That  it  is  your  state;  unless  you  have  been  con- 
vinced of  sin  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  have  been 
led  to  repent  and  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  ? 


CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


DEATH  AND  HELL. 

"  Where  their  worm   dieth  not,   and  the  fire  is  not 
quenched."    Mark  9:  48. 

A  CENTURY  ago,  in  the  churches,  men  were 
told  of  the  law  of  God,  and  the  holiness  of  God, 
and  the  justice  of  God,  to  convince  them  of  sin, 
and  to  make  them  feel  their  need  of  the  Saviour. 
The  church  in  these  days  is  as  the  children  of 
Israel  were,  in  the  time  of  Isaiah;  **  That  will 
not  hear  the  law  of  the  Lord:  which  say  to  the 
seers.  See  not;  and  to  the  prophets.  Prophesy 
not  unto  us  right  things,  speak  unto  us  smooth 
things,  prophesy  deceits"  (Isai.  30:  9).  The  cry 
now  is.  You  must  not  preach  the  terrors  of  the 
law  of  God,  you  must  preach  only  love.  This 
is  now  being  done  so  much  that  humanita- 
rianism  is  taking  the  place  of  the  Gospel.  God 
is  set  aside;  His  word,  His  law,  and  His  plan  of 
salvation  set  aside;  the  first  and  great  command- 
ment. Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart,  is  put  aside;  and  in  their  place  is 
preached,  You  must  visit,  feed,  wash,  clothe, 
educate,  and  give  ethical  culture  to  the  masses, 
to  elevate  them;  and  so  make  them  ready  to 
receive  the  Gospel.  They  who  do  this  are 
"  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ :  for  it  is  the 
power  of  God  unto  salvation"  (Rom.  i:  16). 
All  these  results  in  raising  man  always  follow 


DEATH    AND    HELL.  I5 

the  faithful  preaching  of  the  Gospel ;  and  never 
precede  it.  This  unfaithfulness  of  the  church 
is  not  only  lulling  the  world  to  continue  in  its 
false  security,  but  has  weakened  the  faith  of 
many  of  the  children  of  God;  so  that  many  of 
them  are  led  to  doubt  what  is  said  in  the  previ- 
ous chapter  concerning  the  total  depravity  of 
man;  and  to  doubt  what  the  word  of  God 
teaches  concerning  an  eternal  death  and  an 
eternal  hell.  The  reader  must  bear  in  mind 
that  the  following  extracts  are  from  the  Word 
of  God.  Whether  we  believe  them  or  not 
affects  our  eternal  destiny,  but  cannot  alter  that 
word.  That  word  says,  "  The  wages  of  sin  is 
death;  but  the  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord"  (Rom.  6:  23).  "The 
soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall  die"  (Ezek.  18:  4). 
The  first  temptation  of  the  devil  was  to  destroy 
man's  faith  in  the  word  of  God.  "  The  serpent 
said  unto  the  woman,  Ye  shall  not  surely  die  " 
(Gen.  3:  4).  Eve  believed  the  devil,  and  ever 
since  her  descendants  have  been  led  by  him 
and  are  his  slaves.  Adam  and  Eve  by  their 
creation  were  under  the  law  of  God.  They  were 
created  holy,  with  the  power  and  the  use  of  a 
free  will.  They  were  put  under  a  particular 
test  of  obedience;  and  charged  not  to  eat  of  the 
tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil;  with 
the  penalty  of,  "  in  the  day  thou  eatest  thereof 
thou  shalt  surely  die  "  (Gen.  2:  17).  In  the  orig- 
inal Hebrew  it  reads,  *'  Dying  thou  shalt  die." 
An  everlasting  dying;   an  everlastings  death. 


1 6  CHILDREN    OF    GOD.  i 

The  Bible  further  tells  us,  "  By  one  man  sin 
entered  into  the  world,  and  death  by  sin;  and 
so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have 
sinned"  (Rom.  5:  12).  All  past  history,  and  the 
present  state  of  the  world  confirm  this  word  of 
God.     Death  has  passed  upon  all. 

The  fearful  consequences  of  continuing  in 
sin,  the  awful  penalty  of  the  everlasting  death, 
dying  thou  shalt  die  forever,  is  not  preached  as 
it  should  be.  It  was  almost  the  constant  theme 
of  John  the  Baptist,  of  Christ,  and  of  the  Apos- 
tles when  preaching.  John  the  Baptist  aroused 
all  Judea,by  calling  upon  them  to  escape  "  The 
wrath  to  come  "  (Matt.  3:7).  A  very  large  por- 
tion of  the  teachings  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
contains  the  same  warnings  ;  and  describes  in 
many  ways  death  and  hell.  For  example  : 
"  Hell  "  (Matt.  5:  29,  30;  10:  28).  "  The  damna- 
tion of  hell  "  (Matt.  23:  33).  "Hell  fire  "  (Matt. 
5:  22).  "Everlasting  fire  "  (Matt.  18:  8).  "Ever- 
lasting fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  an- 
gels "  (Matt.  25  :  41).  As  a  place  where  they 
are  "in  torments,"  separated  from  others  by  "a 
great  gulf  fixed  "  (Luke  16:  20,  23,  26).  In  His 
description  of  the  last  judgment,  Jesus  said:  "In 
the  end  of  the  world  the  Son  of  Man  shall  send 
forth  His  angels,  and  they  shall  gather  out  of 
His  kingdom  all  things  that  offend,  and  them 
which  do  iniquity ;  and  shall  cast  them  into  a 
furnace  of  fire:  there  shall  be  wailing  and 
gnashing  of  teeth  "  (Matt.  13:  40).  "Cast  ye  the 
unprofitable  servant  into  the  outer  darkness  : 


DEATH    AND    HELL.  1 7 

there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth  " 
(Matt.  25:  30;  8:  12;  22:  13).  "So  shall  it  be  at 
the  end  of  the  world:  the  angels  shall  come 
forth,  and  sever  the  wicked  from  among  the 
just,  and  shall  cast  them  into  the  furnace  of 
fire:  there  shall  be  wailing  and  gnashing  of 
teeth  "  (Matt.  13.  49;  22:  13).  "Into  hell,  into  the 
fire  that  never  shall  be  quenched:  where  their 
worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched  " 
(Mark  9  :  43,  46,  48).  This  awful  doom  is  not 
for  those  only  who  are  great  sinners  in  the  eye 
of  the  world,  but  the  servant,  who  did  not  em- 
ploy the  one  talent  committed  to  him  by  his 
lord,  received  the  sentence.  "Take  therefore 
the  talent  from  him.  .  .  .  And  cast  ye  the  un- 
profitable servant  into  outer  darkness :  there 
shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth  "  (Matt. 
25:  28).  We  should  bear  in  mind  that  these 
words  were  uttered  by  Christ,  who  came, 
and  died,  to  save  men  from  such  a  fearful 
everlasting  death.  In  the  description  of 
the  Millennium,  given  in  the  2otli  chapter 
of  the  Revelation,  when  all  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  shall  be  Christian  for  a  thousand 
years,  we  read.  His  people  "shall  be  priests 
of  God  and  of  Christ,  and  shall  reign  with  Him 
a  thousand  years.  And  when  the  thousand 
years  are  expired,  Satan  shall  be  loosed  out  of 
his  prison,  and  shall  go  out  to  deceive  the 
nations  which  are  in  the  four  quarters  of  the 
earth,  Gog  and  Magog,  to  gather  them  together 
to  the  war:  the  number  of  whom  is  as  the  sand 


l8  CHILDREN    OF   GOD. 

of  the  sea.  And  they  went  up  over  the  breadth 
of  the  earth,  and  compassed  the  camp  of  the 
saints  about,  and  the  beloved  city:  and  fire  came 
down  out  of  heaven,  and  devoured  them."  This 
falling  away  after  the  Millennium,  has  not  re- 
ceived the  consideration  of  those,  who  insist 
that  Christ  is  coming  personally  on  the  earth  to 
reign  a  thousand  years  in  Jerusalem,  which  it 
should  have.  Since  the  day  of  Pentecost,  He 
has  been  in  closer  union  with  His  Church  and 
with  every  individual  believer  in  Him,  than  he 
He  could  be  if  bodily  present  in  Jerusalem 
only.  Beside,  it  cannot  be  thought,  that  He  is 
to  undergo  a  second  humiliation  on  the  earth, 
by  seeing  all  nations  forsaking  Him  and  shut- 
ting Him  up  with  a  few  saints  in  Jerusalem. 
He  is  on  the  throne  now,  and  never  will  be 
humbled  again.  The  account  goes  on  to  de- 
scribe Hell.  "And  the  Devil  that  deceived 
them  was  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brim- 
stone, where  are  also  the  Beast  and  the  false 
prophet ;  and  they  shall  be  tormented  day 
and  night  forever  and  ever.  And  I  saw  a  great 
white  throne,  and  Him  that  sat  on  it,  from 
whose  face  the  earth  and  the  heaven  fled  away; 
and  there  was  found  no  place  for  them.  And  I 
saw  the  dead,  the  great  and  the  small,  standing 
before  the  throne;  and  the  books  were  opened; 
and  another  book  was  opened,  which  is  the 
Book  of  Life:  and  the  dead  were  judged  out  of 
those  things,  which  were  written  in  the  books, 
according  to  their  works.    And  the  sea  gave 


DEATH    AND    HELL.  I9 

Up  the  dead  which  were  in  it  ;  and  death  and 
Hades  gave  up  the  dead  which  were  in  them  : 
and  they  were  judged  according  to  their  works. 
And  death  and  Hades  were  cast  into  the  lake  of 
fire.  This  is  the  second  death,  even  the  lake  of 
fire.  And  if  any  was  not  found  written  in  the 
Book  of  Life,  he  was  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  " 
(Rev,  20:  6).  The  sad  truth  is,  that  many  who 
profess  to  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
through  their  ignorance  of  the  Scriptures  and 
the  weakness  of  their  faith,  do  not  believe  these 
awful  truths.  The  consequence  is,  they  do  not 
appreciate  their  own  salvation;  and  do  not  seek, 
as  they  should,  to  save  those  who  are  lost.  A 
few  years  ago,  the  whole  country  was  interested 
in  the  efforts  made  to  save  two  men  who  were 
carried  in  the  rapids  above  the  falls  of  Niagara 
to  the  brink  of  the  falls.  They  had  caught  hold 
of  something  which  kept  them  from  going  over. 
Constant  telegrams  were  sent  everywhere  giv- 
ing accounts  of  the  efforts  made  to  save  them. 
After  hours  of  suspense,  one  could  hold  on  no 
longer,  and  was  carried  over  the  falls;  the  other 
was  enabled  to  cling  to  a  log  attached  to  a  rope 
which  had  reached  them.  While  being  drawn 
to  the  bridge,  the  log  struck  a  rock;  he  was  too 
weak  to  hold  on  to  it,  was  washed  off,  and  was 
lost.  He  was  almost  saved.  There  is  a  far 
more  awful  descent  than  over  the  Falls  of 
Niagara;  and  a  more  fearful  death,  than  being 
carried  over  them.  It  is  estimated  that  there  is 
a  death  every  second,  or  a  hundred  thousand 


20  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

deaths  every  day  ;  that  thirty-five  millions  of 
souls  are  going  into  eternity  every  year.  The 
most  of  them,  '^separate  from  Christ,  alienated 
from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel,  and  strangers 
from  the  covenants  of  the  promise,  and  having 
no  hope  and  without  God  in  the  world " 
(Eph.  2:  12).  The  first  impulse  of  the  saved  is 
to  declare  what  Christ  has  done  for  their  souls  ; 
the  next  is,  to  bring  others  to  Christ.  The 
writer  was  told  of  a  person's  saying,  "  that  he 
had  attended  church  regularly,  and  during  the 
last  eleven  years,  he  had  not  heard  the  word 
hell  mentioned."  He  was  also  told,  by  the  son 
of  an  elder,  "You  not  believe  what  is  said  about 
hell,  nor  my  father  neither ;  or  you  would  try 
to  save  every  person  you  met."  "Let  this  mind 
be  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus,  who, 
being  in  the  form  of  God,  thought  it  not  rob- 
bery to  be  equal  with  God:  but  made  Himself 
of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon  Him  the  form 
of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness  of 
men:  and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  He 
humbled  Himself,  and  became  obedient  unto 
death,  even  the  death  of  the  Cross"  (Phil.  2:5). 
Jesus  said,  "The  Son  of  Man  is  come  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  is  lost"  (Luke  19:  10). 
"This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  ac- 
ceptation, that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners"  (i  Tim.  i  :  15).  Believer,  He 
did  this  to  save  you.  Have  you  the  "same  mind 
which  was  in  Christ  Jesus  ?  "  Are  you  trying 
to  sav^  others  ?  , 


MEN    CANNOT    FIND    GOD.  21 


MEN  CANNOT  FIND  GOD  BY  THEIR 

REASON. 

' '  Neither  knoweth  any  man  the  Father,  save  the  Son, 
and  he  to  whomsoever  the  Son  will  reveal  Him."  Matt. 
ii:  27. 

The  first  effect  of  sin  in  Adam  was  to  make 
him  try  to  get  away  from  God.  "Adam  and  his 
wife  hid  themselves  from  the  presence  of  the 
Lord  God  among  the  trees  of  the  garden"  (Gen. 
3:  8).  After  Cain  had  murdered  Abel,  and 
Jehovah  had  set  a  mark  upon  him,  he  "went 
out  from  the  presence  of  Jehovah,  and  dwelt  in 
the  land  of  Nod  "  (Gen.  4:  16).  It  was  well  for 
Adam  that  God  called  unto  him;  otherwise  he 
would  have  departed  farther  and  farther  from 
God  forever.  Reason  has  been  a  traitor  since 
the  fall.  Adam  and  Eve  reasoned  themselves 
into  sin.  "  The  woman  saw  that  the  tree  was 
good  for  food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant  to  the 
eyes,  and  a  tree  to  be  desired  to  make  one  wise, 
she  took  of  the  fruit  thereof,  and  did  eat,  and 
gave  also  unto  her  husband,  and  he  did  eat"  (Gen. 
3:  6).  One  effect  of  the  fall  was  the  entire  per- 
version of  the  reason.  Since  then  man's  reason 
has  been  controlled  by  his  wicked  heart.  This 
is  fully  described  by  Paul  in  the  first  chapter  of 
the  Epistle  to  the  Romans.  "  For  the  wrath  of 
God  is  revealed  from  heaven  against  all  ungod- 


22  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

liness  of  men,  who  hold  the  truth  in  unright- 
eousness; because  that  which  may  be  known  of 
God  is  manifest  in  them;  for  God  hath  shewed 
it  unto  them.  For  the  invisible  things  of  Him 
from  the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly  seen, 
being  understood  by  the  things  that  are  made, 
even  His  eternal  power  and  Godhead;  so  that 
they  are  without  excuse :  because  that,  when 
they  knew  God,  they  glorified  Him  not  as  God, 
neither  were  thankful;  but  became  vain  in  their 
imaginations,  and  their  foolish  heart  was  dark- 
ened. Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they 
became  fools;  and  changed  the  glory  of  the  un- 
corruptible God  into  an  image  made  like  to 
corruptible  man,  and  to  birds,  and  four-footed 
beasts,  and  creeping  things.  Wherefore  God 
also  gave  them  up  to  uncleanness,  through  the 
lusts  of  their  own  hearts,  to  dishonour  their 
own  bodies  between  themselves.  Who  changed 
the  truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  and  worshipped  and 
served  the  creature  more  than  the  Creator,  who 
is  blessed  for  ever.  Amen"  (Rom.  i:  18-32). 
The  Scriptures  compare  the  imparting  of  the 
knowledge  of  God  to  the  natural  man  to  a  new 
creation;  making  it  the  same  as  when  light  was 
created  by  the  word  of  God.  Paul  says:  "  But 
if  our  gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are 
lost:  in  whom  the  god  of  this  world  hath  blinded 
the  minds  of  them  which  believe  not,  lest  the 
light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ,  who  is 
the  image  of  God,  should  shine  unto  them. 
For  we  preach  not  ourselves,  but  Christ  Jesus 


MEN    CANNOT    FIND    GOD.  •    23 

the  Lord;  and  ourselves  your  servants  for  Jesus' 
sake.  For  God,  who  commanded  the  light 
to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath  shined  in  our 
hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ " 
(2  Cor.  4:  3).  Christ  says:  "I  am  the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life:  no  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father  but  by  Me"  (John  14:  6).  "No  man 
knoweth  who  the  Son  is  but  the  Father;  and 
who  the  Father  is  but  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom 
the  Son  will  reveal  Him  "  (Luke  10:  22).  With- 
out that  knowledge  there  is  no  salvation.  "No 
man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time;  the  only  begot- 
ten Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father, 
He  hath  declared  Him  "(John  i:  18).  "Neither 
is  there  salvation  in  any  other,  for  there  is  none 
other  name  given  among  men  whereby  we 
must  be  saved"  (Acts  4:  12).  Human  reason 
could  not  have  discovered  this  way  of  salvation: 
it  universally  rejects  it  when  made  known;  and 
would  continue  to  do  so  unless  made  willing  by 
the  Holy  Ghost. 


24     •  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


MEN    NOT    SAVED   BY    BELIEVING    IN 
A  CHURCH. 

•  •  In  vain  do  they  worship  me,  teaching  for  doctrines 
the  commandments  of  men."    (Mark  7:  7). 

"Ye  reject  the  commandment  of  God,  that  ye  may 
keep  your  own  tradition  "  (Mark  7:  9). 

The  visible  Church,  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  time  since  its  foundation,  over  three 
thousand  years  ago,  has  been  idolatrous  and  in- 
fidel. And  the  greater  part  of  it  at  the  present 
time,  is  Antichrist.  Not  openly  opposing 
Christ;  but  putting  something  in  the  place  of 
Christ.  Substituting  their  traditions  for  the 
Word  of  God;  and  exalting  the  mother  of  Jesus 
above  Him.  They  are  worshipping  the  works 
of  their  own  hands,  a  wafer,  images,  relics, 
etc.  With  their  greater  knowledge  of  the  Word 
of  God,  they  are  far  greater  sinners,  and  doing 
far  more  to  oppose  Christ,  and  His  Gospel,  than 
the  leaders  of  the  Church  in  the  day  of  Christ ; 
whom  He  denounces  so  fearfully ;  and  whom 
he  warns  His  disciples  against.  As  is  recorded 
in  the  twenty-third  chapter  of  Matthew,  and 
elsewhere,  again,  and  again,  Christ  spoke 
kindly  to  publicans  and  sinners,  and  even  to  re- 
penting harlots ;  but  His  anathemas  against 
false  teachers  in  the  Church  are  most  fearful. 
Believers  in  the  Bible,  are  in  many  parts  of  it 


NOT    SAVED    BY    FAITH    IN    A    CHURCH.  25 

warned  against  false  teachers  in  the  Church. 
"For  such  are  false  apostles,  deceitful  workers, 
transforming  themselves  into  the  Apostles  of 
Christ.  And  no  marvel  ;  for  Satan  himself  is 
transformed  into  an  angel  of  light.  Therefore 
it  is  no  great  thing  if  his  ministers  also  be  trans- 
formed as  the  ministers  of  righteousness;  whose 
end  shall  be  according  to  their  works  "  (2  Cor. 
11:  13).  The  most  fearful  work  of  the  Devil  is 
his  getting  control  of  the  Church  through  its 
teachers  and  leaders.  Christ  speaking  of  them, 
says  :  "  Woe  unto  you,  Scribes  and  Pharisees, 
hypocrites !  for  ye  shut  up  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  against  men:  for  ye  neither  go  in  your- 
selves, neither  suffer  ye  them  that  are  entering 
to  go  in  "  (Matt.  23:  13).  The  Gospel  can  be 
carried  to  the  heathen  and  they  will  receive  it ; 
but  the  followers  of  these  false  teachers  cannot 
be  approached.  Forbidden  by  their  priests, 
they  will  not  listen  to  the  Gospel,  and  are  ready 
to  kill  those  who  bring  the  Gospel  to  them. 
Speaking  of  the  Pharisees,  who  were  offended 
by  His  sayings,  Christ  says,  "  Let  them  alone  : 
they  be  blind  leaders  of  the  blind.  And  if  the 
blind  lead  the  blind,  both  shall  fall  into  the 
ditch  "  (Matt.  15:  14).  Speaking  of  those  cities 
which  would  not  receive  the  messengers  of 
Christ,  Christ  said,  "  It  shall  be  more  tolerable 
for  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  in  the  day  of  jud| 
ment  than  for  them  "  (Matt.  10:  15;  11:  2>;:^^fr 
Luke  10:  12-15).  While  there  are  soi 
of  God,  and  saved,  even  in  these  lapse(^ 


26  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

their  teachings  lead  many  of  their  deluded  fol- 
lowers to  everlasting  death.     There  are  some 
false  teachers  also,  in  some  of  the  Protestant 
Churches ;    perverting    the  truth.     Their  fol- 
lowers, like  those  described  by  Isaiah,  will  not 
hear  the  law  of  God.     "Now  go,  write  it  before 
them  in  a  table,  and  note  it  in  a  book,  that  it 
may  be  for  the  time  to  come  forever  and  ever  : 
That  this  is  a  rebellious  people,  lying  children, 
children  that  will  not  hear  of  the  law  of  the 
Lord  :  which  say  to  the  seers.  See  not ;  and  to 
the  prophets,  Prophesy  not  unto  us  right  things, 
speak  unto  us  smooth  things,  prophesy  deceits: 
get  you  out  of  the  way,  turn  aside  out  of  the 
path,  cause  the  Holy  One  of   Israel  to  cease 
from  among  us  "  (Isaiah  30:  8).     "  For  the  time 
will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  sound  doc- 
trine; but  after  their  own  lusts  shall  they  heap 
to  themselves  teachers,  having  itching  ears;  and 
they  shall  turn  away  their  ears  from  the  truth, 
and  shall  be  turned  unto  fables  "  (2  Tim.  4:3). 
"But  there  were  false  prophets  among  the  peo- 
ple, even  as  there  shall  be  false  teachers  among 
you,  who  privily  shall  bring  in  damnable  here- 
sies, even  denying  the  Lord  that  bought  them, 
and  bring  upon  themselves  swift  destruction. 
And  many  shall  follow  their  pernicious  ways  ; 
by  reason  of  whom  the  way  of  truth  shall  be 
evil  spoken  of.  And  through  covetousness  shall 
they  with  feigned  words  make  merchandise  of 
you"  (2  Peter  2:  i).     Paul  tells  the  saints  at 
Colosse,   "Beware,  lest    any    man  spoil    you, 


NOT    SAVED    BY    FAITH    IN    A    CHURCH.  27 

through  philosophy  and  vain  deceit,  after  the 
tradition  of  men,  after  the  rudiments  of  the 
world,  and  not  after  Christ "  (Col.  2  :  8).  The 
saints  of  the  present  day,  need  the  same  warn- 
ing ;  that  they  may  not  be  "  spoiled "  by  the 
teachings  of  some  ministers  and  professors  in 
theological  seminaries,  "which  are  not  after 
Christ."  And  also,  by  "  Avoiding  profane  and 
vain  babblings,  and  oppositions  of  science 
falsely  so  called  ;  which  some  professing  have 
erred  concerning  the  faith "  (i  Tim.  6:  20). 
They  who  seek  to  find  God,  and  the  way  of  sal- 
vation in  any  Church  or  from  any  ministers, 
whose  teachings  are  "not  after  Christ,"  are  lost. 
What  the  Bible  teaches  concerning  the  errors  in 
doctrine  and  practice  in  the  churches  spoken  of 
in  it,  will  appear  in  another  chapter. 


CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


UNION  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

*'As  Thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they, 
also,  may  be  one  in  us  "  (John  17:  21). 

The  cry  at  the  present  day  for  the  union  of  the 
visible  Church  is  mostly  founded  on  ignorance 
or  on  infidelity.  It  is  contrary  to  the  teachings 
of  the  Bible,  and  contrary  to  the  prayer  of 
Christ.  The  cry  is,  for  all  Churches  calling 
themselves  Christian  to  unite;  whether  they  are 
evangelical,  infidel,  idolatrous  or  antichrist  ; 
and,  that  all  creeds  and  confessions  must 
be  put  aside.  This  can  never  be.  The 
true  Church  may,  as  has  been  the  case, 
disappear,  or  be  hidden  for  a  time  ;  but  it 
will,  even  if  only  a  comparative  handful,  be 
kept  separate  and  distinct.  It  will  separate  it- 
self from  those  Churches  "  which  hold  the 
truth  in  unrighteousness,"  or  put  their  tradi- 
tions in  the  place  of  the  Scriptures.  Jesus  did 
this,  when  He  separated  His  followers  from  the 
Church  in  His  day.  Christ's  prayer  for  them 
who  believe  in  Him  is,  "  They  might  be  one, 
even  as  He  and  the  Father  are  one.  I  in  them, 
and  Thou  in  Me,  that  they  may  be  made  perfect 
in  one  ;  "  "  That  the  love  wherewith  Thou  hast 
loved  Me  may  be  in  them  and  I  in  them " 
(John  17:  II,  22,  26).  The  union  of  believers  in 
the    Lord    Jesus  Christ  is  not  union  with   a 


UNION    OF    THE    CHURCH.  29 

Church;  but  is  Christ  in  them,  and  they  in 
Him.  United,  they  are  partakers  of  the  same 
Spirit  ;  and  thus  they  are  one  in  Him,  and  in 
one  another.  Believers  in  Him  have  always 
been,  and  are  now,  united  in  Him.  His  prayer 
has  been  answered  ever  since  it  was  offered. 

In  almost  all  ages,  the  greater  part  of  the 
visible  Church  has  been  opposed  to  the  truth  ; 
and  it  has  been  and  still  is  the  greatest  enemy 
of  Christ  and  of  His  followers.  Christ,  speaking 
to  the  leaders  and  rulers  of  the  visible  Church 
in  His  day,  said,  "Woe  unto  you,  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  hypocrites !  *  *  *  Ye  are  the 
children  of  them  which  killed  the  prophets.  Fill 
ye  up  then  the  measure  of  your  fathers.  Ye 
serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye 
escape  the  damnation  of  hell  ?  Wherefore,  be- 
hold I  send  unto  you  prophets,  and  wise  men, 
and  scribes:  an  J  some  of  them  ye  shall  kill  and 
crucify  ;  and  some  of  them  shall  ye  scourge  in 
your  synagogues,  and  persecute  them  from  city 
to  city  "  (Matt.  23:  29).  These  words  have  been 
literally  fulfilled  by  the  visible  Church.  It 
crucified  Christ;  killed,  or  persecuted  them  who 
believed  in  Him;  and  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
time,  ever  since,  it  has  continued  to  do  so, 
wherever  it  had  temporal  power  ;  and  in  some 
places  it  is  doing  so  n.)W.  Thus  Christ's  Word, 
concerning  the  Church  was  fulfilled,  "  That  up- 
on you  may  come  all  the  righteous  blood  shed 
upon  the  earth  "  (Matt.  23  :  35).  The  lapsed 
Churches,  generally,  hate  the  truth  and  them 


30  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

that  hold  it  more  than  the  world  does.  This 
was  the  case  before  Christ  came.  It  was  for 
this  Cain  killed  Abel.  The  ten  tribes  of  Israel 
when  they  forsook  God,  became  the  greatest 
enemies  of  the  two  who  remained  faithful  to 
His  Word  and  service.  Whenever  affinity  was 
made  with  each  other,  Judah  was  led  into  idola- 
try. 

The  marriages  of  the  children  of  God  with 
the  children  of  the  world,  were  followed  by 
the  corruption  of  the  entire  human  race  ;  and 
was  the  cause  of  the  Flood  sent  to  destroy  all 
living,  excepting  those  saved  in  the  Ark.  In 
the  former  dispensation,  the  children  of  God 
were  forbidden  to  form  alliances  with  the  idol- 
atrous nations  around  them  ;  they  were  forbid- 
den to  introduce  any  of  their  forms  of  worship; 
they  were  forbidden  to  join  them  in  worldly 
business  or  pursuits;  and  particularly  forbidden 
to  have  any  marriages  between  them;  "Neither 
shalt  thou  make  marriages  with  them,  thy 
daughter  thou  shalt  not  give  unto  his  son,  nor 
his  daughter  shalt  thou  take  unto  thy  son.  For 
they  will  turn  away  thy  son  from  following  me, 
that  they  may  serve  other  gods  "  (Deut.  7:3). 
Solomon,  the  wisest  of  men,  was  thus  led  astray. 
Such  was  the  fate  of  Ahab  after  he  married 
Jezebel.  And  such  now  generally  follows, 
when  children  of  Christian  parents  marry  the 
daughters  of  lapsed  Churches,  or  of  the  world. 
In  the  New  Testament  the  children  of  God  are 
told,  "Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with 


UNION    OF    THE    CHURCH.  $t 

unbelievers:  for  what  fellowship  hath  righteous- 
ness with  unrighteousness  ?  And  what  com- 
munion hath  light  with  darkness  ?  And  what 
part  hath  Christ  with  Belial?  Or  what  part 
hath  he  that  believeth  with  an  infidel  ?  And 
what  agreement  hath  the  temple  of  God  with 
idols  ?  for  ye  are  the  temple  of  the  living  God  ; 
for  God  hath  said,  "  I  will  dwell  in  them  ;  and 
walk  in  them;  and  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they 
shall  be  My  people  "  (2  Cor.  6:  14;  i  Cor.  6:  39). 
Christ's  prayer  for  believers  in  Him  was, 
"That  they  all  may  be  one;  as  Thou,  Father,  art 
in  Me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they  also  may  be 
one  in  us;  that  the  world  may  believe  that  Thou 
hast  sent  Me.  And  the  glory  which  Thou 
gavest  Me  I  have  given  them  ;  that  they  may 
be  one,  even  as  we  are  one;  I  in  them,  and  thou 
in  Me,  that  they  may  be  made  perfect  in  one  " 
(John  17  :  21).  His  prayer  is  answered.  His 
people  are  one.  The  union  of  the  Churches,  as 
is  proposed,  is  impossible.  If  it  were  possible, 
the  result  would  be  the  death  of  the  true 
Church  ;  and  there  would  be  no  hope  for  the 
world.  The  twelve  tribes  of  Israel  were  kept 
separate;  yet  they  composed  one  Israel  as  long 
as  they  were  faithful  to  the  Word  and  ordi- 
nances of  God.  When  they  forsook  Him,  they 
were  lost. 


32  CHILDREN    OF  GOD. 


SINS  OF  THE  CHURCH  BEFORE  CHRIST 
CAME. 

A  VERY  large  portion  of  the  Old  Testament  is 
a  record  of  the  sins  of  the  visible  church  of 
God.  The  great  wonder  is,  that  God  has  pre- 
served His  word  from  the  beginning  to  the 
present  day.  All  men  by  nature  are  opposed  to 
it.  The  rulers  of  the  earth  have  tried  to  destroy 
it.  And  even  the  greater  part  of  the  church, 
to  whom  it  was  sent,  and  in  whose  charge  it 
was,  has  endeavored  to  keep  it  a  sealed  book 
away  from  the  people;  and  has,  from  age  to  age, 
rejected  it  and  put  their  traditions  in  the  place 
of  it;  and  it  is  doing  so  at  the  present  time.  As 
the  church  did  in  the  days  of  Christ;  to  the 
rulers  of  which  He  said,  *' Full  well  ye  reject 
the  commandment  of  God,  that  ye  may  keep 
your  own  tradition"  (Mark  7:  9).  "Well  hath 
Esaias  prophesied  of  you  hypocrites,  as  it  is 
written,  This  people  honoureth  me  with  their 
lips,  but  their  heart  is  far  from  me.  Howbeit 
in  vain  do  they  worship  me,  teaching  for  doc- 
trines the  commandments  of  men  "  (Mark  7:  6). 
"  Making  the  word  of  God  of  none  effect  through 
your  tradition"  (Mark  7:  13;  Matt.,  chap.  23). 
In  almost  every  book  in  the  Old  Testament  we 
have  accounts  of  the  idolatries  of  the  children 
of  Israel,  the  only  church  of  God  in  the  world. 


SINS   OF    THfi    CHURCH    BEFORK   CHRIST.  33 

Immediately  after  they  were  delivered  from 
Egypt,  and  were  made  God's  chosen  people, 
they  fashioned  with  a  graven  tool  a  molten  calf, 
and  built  an  altar  before  it,  and  they  said, 
"  These  be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which  brought 
thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt"  (Exod,  32: 
4).  During  the  four  hundred  years  of  the 
Judges,  the  various  tribes  many  times  fell 
into  idolatry  and  into  captivity.  Judges  2:  11- 
17;  3-  6,  7,  12;  4:  i;  6:  i,  28;  10:  6,  etc.  After 
the  kingdom  was  divided,  ten  of  the  twelve 
tribes  of  Israel  worshipped  and  offered  sacrifices 
to  the  two  calves  of  gold  made  by  Jeroboam; 
who  had  told  them,  "  Behold  thy  gods,  O  Israel, 
which  brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt"  (i  Kings  12:  28).  The  ten  tribes  con- 
tinued their  idolatry  until  they  were  taken  into 
captivity  and  lost  sight  of.  The  remaining  two 
tribes  repeatedly  became  idolatrous,  until  they 
were  led  into  captivity  to  Babylon.  Nearly  all 
of  the  prophets  were  sent  to  the  church,  to 
reprove  it  for  forsaking  the  Lord  and  His  word. 
Isai.  i:  2;  Jer.  i:  18;  Ezek.  2:  3;  Amos  3;  Micah 
i:  5,  etc.  Isaiah,  700  years  before  Christ,  says: 
"Hear,  O  heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth:  for 
the  Lord  hath  spoken;  I  have  nourished  and 
brought  up  children,  and  they  have  rebelled 
against  me.  The  ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and 
the  ass  his  master's  crib:  but  Israel  doth  not 
know,  my  people  doth  not  consider.  Ah  sinful 
nation,  a  people  laden  with  iniquity,  a  seed  of 
evil  doers,   children  that  are  corrupters:  they 


34  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

have  forsaken  the  Lord,  they  have  provoked 
the  Holy  One  of  Israel  unto  anger,  they  are 
gone  away  backward."  *  *  *  **  Bring  no 
more  vain  oblations;  incense  is  an  abomination 
nnto  me,  the  new  moons  and  Sabbaths,  the  call- 
ing of  assemblies,  I  cannot  away  with,  it  is 
iniquity,  even  the  solemn  meeting.  Your  new 
moons  and  your  appointed  feasts  my  soul 
hateth:  they  are  a  trouble  to  me;  I  am  weary 
to  bear  them.  And  when  ye  spread  forth  your 
hands,  I  will  hide  mine  eyes  from  you;  yea, 
when  ye  make  many  prayers,  I  will  not  hear: 
your  hands  are  full  of  blood"  (Isai.  i:  2,  13). 
"  His  watchmen  are  blind:  they  are  all  ignorant, 
they  are  all  dumb  dogs,  they  cannot  bark;  sleep- 
ing, lying  down,  loving  to  slumber.  Yea,  they 
are  greedy  dogs  which  can  never  have  enough,' 
and  they  are  shepherds  that  cannot  understand: 
they  all  look  to  their  own  way,  every  one  for 
his  gain,  from  his  quarter"  (Isai.  56:  10).  A 
great  part  of  the  book  of  Jeremiah,  600  years 
before  Christ,  consists  of  accusations  against 
the  church  in  his  day,  and  denounces  the  judg- 
ments of  God  upon  them  for  their  idolatries. 
Jer.  1:  14,  16;  2:8.  "The  prophets  prophesy 
falsely,  and  the  priests  bear  rule  by  their 
means;  and  my  people  love  to  have  it  so  "  (Jer. 
5:  31).  The  prophet  Ezekiel  is  sent  by  the 
Lord  to  deliver  the  same  messages  to  Israel, 
**And  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  I  send  thee 
to  the  children  of  Israel,  to  a  rebellious  nation 
that  hath  rebelled  against  me:  they  and  their 


SINS   or    THE   CHURCH    BEFORE    CHRIST.  35 

fathers  have  transgressed  against  Me,  even 
unto  this  very  day.  For  they  are  impudent 
children  and  stiff-hearted.  I  do  send  thee  unto 
them;  and  thou  shalt  say  unto  them,  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God"  (Ezek.  2:  3).  "And  he  said 
unto  me.  Son  of  man,  go,  get  thee  unto  the 
house  of  Israel,  and  speak  my  words  unto  them. 
*  *  *  But  the  house  of  Israel  will  not  hearken 
unto  thee;  for  they  will  not  hearken  unto 
me"  (Ezek.  3:  4-7).  "Her  priests  have  vio- 
lated my  law."  "Her  prophets  have  daubed 
them  with  untempered  mortar,  seeing  vanity, 
and  divining  lies  unto  them,  saying.  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God,  when  the  Lord  hath  not  spoken  " 
(Ezek.  22:  26,  28).  The  accusations  made 
against  the  ancient  church  are  applicable  to  the 
greater  part  of  the  church  of  the  present  day. 


36  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


THE  JEWS. 

Since  God  called  Abraham,  nearly  four  thous- 
and years  ago,  his  descendants  through  Isaac 
and  Jacob  have  been  God's  chosen  people. 
Their  preservation  to  the  present  day  has  been 
a  perpetual  miracle.  For  nearly  two  thousand 
years  before  Christ  came,  they  were  the  only 
people  of  God  in  the  world.  His  visible  church; 
chosen,  delivered,  guided,  protected  by  Him; 
and  possessing  His  word.  All  the  messages  of 
God  to  the  human  race;  all  the  revelations 
of  God;  of  Himself,  of  His  law,  of  His  plan  of 
salvation,  were  made  to  the  Jews.  All  the 
writers  of  the  Bible,  the  Old  Testament  and  the 
New,  all  the  prophets,  all  the  apostles,  were 
Jews.  And  Christ  Himself  was  a  Jew.  As 
Christ  said  to  the  woman  of  Samaria,  "  Salva- 
tion is  of  the  Jews"  (John  4:  22). 

While  the  children  of  Israel  were  yet  in  the 
wilderness,  before  they  entered  into  the  prom- 
ised land,  Moses  told  them  of  the  blessings 
which  would  come  upon  them  if  they  obeyed 
the  Lord,  and  of  the  curses  which  should  come 
upon  them,  if  they  did  not  observe  all  His  com- 
mandments and  statutes.  He  said  unto  them  ; 
"Cursed  shalt  thou  be  in  the  city,  and  cursed 
shalt  thou  be  in  the  field.  Cursed  shall  be  thy 
basket  and  thy  store.     Cursed  shall  be  the  fruit 


THE    JEWS.  37 

of  thy  body,  and  the  fruit  of  thy  land,  the  in- 
crease of  thy  kine,  and  the  flocks  of  thy  sheep. 
Cursed  shalt  thou  be  when  thou  comest  in,  and 
cursed  shalt  thou  be  when  thou  goest  out " 
(Deut.  28:  15).  After  specifying  many  other 
judgments  that  the  Lord  should  send  upon 
them,  he  says  :  "And  thou  shalt  become  an 
astonishment,  a  proverb,  and  a  by- word,  among 
all  nations  whither  the  Lord  shall  lead  thee." 
♦  *  *  "  And  the  Lord  shall  scatter  thee 
among  all  people,  from  one  end  of  the  earth 
even  unto  the  other;  and  there  thou  shalt  serve 
other  gods,  which  neither  thou  nor  thy  fathers 
have  known,  even  wood  and  stone.  And  among 
these  nations  shalt  thou  find  no  ease,  neither 
shall  the  sole  of  thy  foot  have  rest  "  (Deut.  28  : 
37,  64)  Six  hundred  years  before  Christ  came, 
Jeremiah  wrote,  "And  I  will  deliver  them  to  be 
removed  into  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  for 
their  hurt,  to  be  a  reproach  and  a  proverb,  a 
taunt  and  a  curse,  in  all  places  whither  I  shall 
drive  them  "  (Jer.  24:  9).  "And  I  will  persecute 
them  with  the  sword,  with  the  famine,  and 
with  the  pestilence,  and  will  deliver  them  to  be 
removed  to  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  to  be 
a  curse,  and  an  astonishment,  and  a  hissing, 
among  all  the  nations  whither  I  have  driven 
them ;  because  they  have  not  hearkened  to  My 
words,  saith  the  Lord,  which  1  sent  unto  them 
by  My  servants  the  prophets,  rising  up  early 
and  sending  them;  but  ye  would  not  hear,  salt] 
the  Lord"  (Jer.  29:  18).     The  Lord  then, 


38  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

"  I  am  with  thee,  saith  the  Lord,  to  save  thee  : 
though  I  make  a  full  end  of  all  nations,  whither 
I  have  scattered  thee,  yet  will  I  not  make  a  full 
end  of  thee;  but  I  will  correct  thee  in  measure, 
and  will  not  leave  thee  altogether  unpunished  " 
(Jer.  30  :  11  ;  46  :  28).  In  accordance  with  His 
Word;  God  has  been  making  a  "  full  end  of  all 
nations  whither  I  have  scattered  thee,  yet  will 
I  not  make  a  full  end  of  thee." 

The  nations  that  made  captives  of  the  Jews 
have  passed  away:  and  the  prophecies  concern- 
ing them  have  been  literally  fulfilled.  "Babylon, 
the  glory  of  kingdoms,the  beauty  of  the  Chaldees' 
excellency,  shall  be  as  when  God  overthrows 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  It  shall  never  be  in- 
habited, neither  shall  it  be  dwelt  in  from  gen- 
eration to  generation  "  (Isa.  13:  19;  14:  22,47). 
Nineveh  described  as  much .  larger  than  Baby- 
lon, after  suffering  the  judgments  of  God  ;  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  having  in  one  night  de- 
stroyed "  a  hundred  and  four  score  and  five 
thousand "  (Isa.  37  :  36).  "  Nineveh  is  laid 
waste"  (Nahum  3:  7).  The  destruction  of 
Babylon  and  Nineveh  and  the  state  in  which 
their  ruins  have  continued,  according  to 
prophecy,  is  more  wonderful  than  their  first 
growth  and  grandeur.  For  more  than  two 
thousand  years,  the  prophecies  in  the  Word  of 
God  concerning  Eg^pt  have  been  fulfilling. 
During  all  that  time  Egypt  has  been  as  she  is 
now,  **  without  a  native  prince,"  and  "the  basest 
of  kingdoms"  (Ezek.  29:     15  ;  30  :  13).    The 


THE   JEWS.  59 

prophecies  also  against  the  nations  that  hated 
the  Jews,  when  they  represented  the  Church  of 
God,  and  who  rejoiced  in  the  destruction  of 
Jerusalem,  God,  according  to  His  Word,  has 
made  a  full  end  of;  they  have  disappeared  from 
the  earth.  To  the  Ammonites  :  "Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God  ;  because  thou  has  clapped  thine 
hands,  and  stamped  with  the  feet,  and  rejoiced 
in  heart  with  all  thy  despite  against  the  land  of 
Israel;  behold,  therefore,  I  will  stretch  out 
mine  hand  upon  thee,  and  will  deliver  thee  to 
the  heathen  ;  and  I  will  cut  thee  off  from  the 
people,  and  I  will  cause  thee  to  perish  out  of 
the  countries:  I  will  destroy  thee  ;  and  thou 
shalt  know  that  I  am- the  Lord  "  (Ezek.  25  :  6). 
For  the  same  reason  God  said  :  "  I  will  execute 
judgments  on  Moab  "  (Ezek.  25  :  14).  "I  will 
lay  my  vengeance  upon  Edom."  "  For  thy 
violence  against  thy  brother  Jacob  shame  shall 
cover  thee,  and  thou  shalt  be  cut  off  forever." 
There  is  none  "  remaining  of  the  house  of 
Esau  "  "  The  things  of  Esau  "  have  been  "  so 
searched  out,  and  his  hidden  things  sought  up," 
that  not  a  relic  can  be  found  in  their  ancient 
dwellings.  (Obad  18;  Jer.  49:  17;  Ezek.  25:  13). 
For  the  same  cause,  judgments  were  to  be 
executed  on  the  Philistines;  and  also  upon  Tyre; 
then  one  of  the  richest  cities  in  the  world. 
"  They  shall  destroy  the  walls  of  Tyrus,  and 
break  down  her  towers  :  I  will  also  scrape  her 
dust  from  her,  and  make  her  like  the  top  of  a 
rock.     It  shall  be  a  place  for  the  spreading  of 


40  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

nets  in  the  midst  of  the  sea  "  (Ezek.  26:  2), 
These  prophecies  have  been  literally  fulfilled. 
"Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that 
I  will  make  a  new  covenant  with  the  house  of 
Israel,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah:  not  accord- 
ing to  the  covenant  that  I  made  with  their 
fathers,  in  the  day  that  I  took  them  by  the 
hand  to  bring  them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt ; 
which  My  covenant  they  brake,  although  I  was 
a  husband  unto  them,  saith  the  Lord  :  but  this 
shall  be  the  covenant  that  I  will  make  with  the 
house  of  Israel:  After  those  days,  saith  the 
Lord,  I  will  put  My  law  in  their  inward  parts, 
and  write  it  in  their  hearts ;  and  will  be  their 
God,  and  they  shall  be  My  people.  And  they 
shall  teach  no  more  every  man  his  neighbor, 
and  every  man  his  brother,  saying.  Know  the 
Lord  :  for  they  shall  all  know  Me,  from  the 
least  of  them,  unto  the  greatest  of  them,  saith 
the  Lord"  (Jer.  31:  31).  "A  new  heart  also 
will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within 
you  :  and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out 
of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  a  heart  of 
flesh.  And  I  will  put  My  spirit  within  you,  and 
cause  you  to  walk  in  My  statutes."  *  *  * 
"Thus  saith  the  Lord  God:  I  will  yet  for  this  be 
inquired  of  by  the  house  of  Israel,  to  do  it  for 
them"  (Ezek.  36:  19,  24,  25,  26,  37).  Two  hun- 
dred years  before  Jeremiah,  Amos  prophesied  : 
"Behold,  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  God  are  upon  the 
sinful  kingdom,  and  I  will  destroy  it  from  oflE 
the  face  of  the  earth;  saving  that  I  will  not 


THE  JEWS.  4J 

Utterly  destroy  the  house  of  Jacob,  saith  the 
Lord.  For,  lo,  I  will  command,  and  I  will  sift 
the  house  of  Israel  among  all  nations,  like  as 
corn  is  sifted  in  a  sieve,  yet  shall  not  the  least 
grain  fall  upon  the  earth  "  (An^os  9:  8).  Christ 
said :  "And  they  shall  fall  by  the  edge  of  the 
sword,  and  shall  be  led  away  captive  into  all 
nations  :  and  Jerusalem  shall  be  trodden  down 
of  the  Gentiles,  until  the  times  of  the  Gentiles 
be  fulfilled  "  (Luke  21:  24).  Paul  says  :  "I  say 
then.  Have  they  stumbled  that  they  should  fall? 
God  forbid:  but  rather  through  their  fall  salva- 
tion is  come  unto  the  Gentiles."  *  *  *  "For 
if  the  casting  away  of  them  be  the  reconciling 
of  the  world,  what  shall  the  receiving  of  them 
be,  but  life  from  the  dead."  *  *  *  "  For  I 
would  not,  brethren,  that  ye  should  be  ignorant 
of  this  mystery,  lest  ye  should  be  wise  in  your 
own  conceits;  that  blindness  in  part  is  happened 
to  Israel,  until  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  be 
come  in.  And  so  all  Israel  shall  be  saved  " 
(Rom.  11:  II,  15,  25). 

Since  their  return  from  their  captivity  in 
Babylon,  five  hundred  years  before  Christ  came 
to  the  present  day,  the  Jews  have  never  been 
idolaters;  but  have  remained  faithful  to  the 
worship  of  one  God;  while  for  over  twelve  hun- 
dred years,  the  whole  visible  Christian  Church 
was  grossly  idolatrous.  They  are  living  wit- 
nesses for  the  truth  of  the  writings  of  Moses 
and  of  the  prophets  ;  of  the  truthfulness  of  the 
whole  Bible;  although  for  two  thousand  years, 


43  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

all  men  have  been  against  them.  The  won- 
derful prophecies  concerning  their  dispersion 
have  been  literally  fulfilled;  and  are  being  so 
now;  and  the  prophecies  of  their  being  brought 
again  into  the  visible  Church,  with  the  fulness 
of  the  Gentiles,  are  equally  certain.  A  full  end 
has  God  made,  according  to  His  Word,  of  many 
nations:  but  the  Jews,  although  without  a  coun- 
try, and  sifted  through  all  nations,  still  con- 
tinue a  great  people;  witnesses  for  the  truth  of 
the  Bible,  as  they  have  been  in  all  the  past  gen- 
erations; and  they  will  continue  a  perpetual 
miracle,  proving  the  truth  of  the  Word  of  God 
to  the  generations  to  come;  until  the  Gospel 
shall  be  preached  to  all  nations;  and  then,  shall 
the  Jews  be  brought  into  the  Church  of  Christ; 
with  the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  (Rom.  ii:  25). 


ERRORS   IN    THE    CHURCHES.  43 


ERRORS  IN  CHURCHES  SINCE 
CHRIST   CAME. 

In  the  New  Testament  we  have  the  account 
of  the  Church  in  the  days  of  Christ.  In  the 
Epistles,  we  have  a  record  of  the  errors  in  the 
churches  founded  by  the  Apostles.  In  the 
Revelation,  we  have  the  errors  of  the  seven 
churches  in  Asia,  which  led  to  the  removal  of 
their  light,  and  to  their  extinction  ;  and  also,  a 
prophetic  account  of  the  rise  and  fall  of  the 
great  apostate  church.  The  most  of  the  errors, 
spoken  of  and  condemned,  still  exist  in  the 
greater  part  of  the  churches.  The  children  of 
God  should  be  warned  against  them;  that  they 
may  avoid  them.  In  the  Gospels,  we  read  the 
warnings  of  Christ  against  the  rulers  of  the 
Church  in  His  day.  "Take  heed  and  beware  of 
the  leaven  of  the  Pharisees  and  of  the  Sad- 
ducees"  (Matt.  i6:  6).  "They  be  blind  leaders 
of  the  blind"  (Matt.  15:  14).  "Thus  have  ye 
made  the  commandment  of  God  of  none  effect 
by  your  tradition  "  (Matt.  15:  6).  *'Ye  serpents, 
ye  generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye  escape  the 
the  damnation  of  hell?"  (Matt.  23:  33).  The 
"  generation  of  vipers  "  still  lives;  and  they  are 
the  leaders  in  large  portions  of  the  Church  at 
the  present  day.  It  was  to  a  ruler  in  the 
Church,  Christ  said:  "Except   a  man  be   bom 


44  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God " 
(John  3:  3,  5).  It  was  to  the  leaders  in  the 
Church  that  Jesus  said:  "Ye  neither  know  Me, 
nor  My  Father  :  if  ye  had  known  Me,  ye  would 
have  known  My  Father  also"  (John  8:  19). 
The  greater  part  of  the  Church  has  had  such 
teachers  and  rulers  ever  since.  The  account 
Christ  gives  of  their  teachings  and  works,  as 
recorded  in  the  twenty-third  chapter  of  Matthew 
and  elsewhere,  should  be  studied:  and  believers 
in  Christ  should  take  heed  and  beware  of  them. 
In  the  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians  Paul  writes  : 
"It  hath  been  declared  unto  me  of  you,  my 
brethren,  by  them  of  the  house  of  Chloe,  that 
there  are  contentions  among  you.  Now  this  I 
say,  that  every  one  of  you  saith,  I  am  of  Paul ; 
and  I  of  Apollos;  and  I  of  Cephas;  and  I  of  Christ. 
Is  Christ  divided  ?  Was  Paul  crucified  for  you  ? 
(i  Cor.  i:  11).  There  would  be  fewer  conten- 
tions in  the  Church,  if  men  had  regard  to  the 
words  of  Christ,  instead  of  following  men.  In 
the  fifth  chapter  he  charges  them  with  not 
using  proper  discipline  over  the  members  of 
their  church.  "  It  is  reported  commonly  that 
there  is  fornication  among  you."  And  tells 
them,  "A  little  leaven  leaveneth  the  whole 
lump.  Purge  out,  therefore,  the  old  leaven  " 
(i  Cor.  5:  1,5,  7).  "Now,  therefore,  there  is  ut- 
terly a  fault  among  you,  because  ye  go  to  law 
one  with  another  "  (i  Cor.  6:  1-7).  "I  hear  that 
there  be  divisions  among  you;  and  I  partly  be- 
lieve it    For  there  must  be  also  heresies  among 


ERRORS   IN    THE    CHURCHES.  45 

you,  that  they  which,  are  approved  may  be 
manifest  among  you  "  (i  Cor.  ii:  i8).  "When 
ye  come  together  therefore  into  one  place,  this 
is  not  to  eat  the  Lord's  Supper.  For  in  eating 
every  one  taketh  before  other  his  own  supper; 
and  one  is  hungry,  and  another  is  drunken. 
*  *  *  Shall  I  praise  you  in  this  ?  I  praise 
you  not  "  (i  Cor.  ii:  20).  "  I  fear,  lest  when  I 
come,  I  shall  not  find  you  such  as  I  would,  and 
that  I  shall  be  found  unto  you  such  as  ye  would 
not:  lest  there  be  debates,  envyings,  wraths, 
strifes,  backbitings,  whisperings,  swellings, 
tumults"  (2  Cor,  12  :  20).  To  the  churches  of 
Galatia,  he  writes :  **  I  marvel  that  ye  are  so 
soon  removed  from  him  that  called  you  into 
the  grace  of  Christ  unto  another  Gospel  which 
is  not  another  ;  but  there  be  some  that  trouble 
you,  and  would  pervert  the  Gospel  of  Christ  " 
(Gal.  1 :  6).  "When  Peter  was  come  to  Antioch, 
I  withstood  him  to  the  face,  because  he  was  to 
be  blamed."  *  *  *  "And  the  other  Jews  dis- 
sembled likewise  with  him;  insomuch  that  Bar- 
nabas also  was  carried  away  with  their  dis- 
simulation. But  when  I  saw  that  they  walked 
not  uprightly  according  to  the  truth  of  the 
Gospel,  I  said  unto  Peter  before  them  all,  etc." 
(Gal.  2:  11).  Continuing,  Paul  writes,  "O  foolish 
Galatians,  who  hath  bewitched  you,  that  ye 
should  not  obey  the  truth  "  (Gal.  3:1).  "  Are 
ye  so  foolish  ?  having  begun  in  the  Spirit,  are 
ye  now  made  perfect  by  the  flesh  ?"  (Gal.  3:  3). 
"How  turn  ye  again  to  the  weak  and  beggarly 


46  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

elements,  whereunto  ye  desire  again  to  be  in 
bondage  ?  Ye  observe  days,  and  months,  and 
times,  and  years.  I  am  afraid  of  you,  lest  I 
have  bestowed  upon  you  labor  in  vain  "  (Gal. 
4:  9).  To  the  saints  at  Philippi,  he  writes  : 
"For  many  walk,  of  whom  I  have  told  you  often, 
and  now  tell  you  even  weeping,  that  they  are 
the  enemies  of  the  cross  of  Christ  "  (Phil.  3:18). 
To  the  saints  in  Colosse,  he  writes  :  "  Beware 
lest  any  man  spoil  you  through  philosophy  and 
vain  deceit  after  the  tradition  of  men,  after  the 
rudiments  of  the  world,  and  not  after  Christ  " 
(Col.  2:  8).  "  Let  no  man  therefore  judge  you 
in  meat,  or  in  drink,  or  in  respect  of  an  holy 
day,  or  of  the  new  moon,  or  of  the  Sabbath 
days  :  which  are  a  shadow  of  things  to  come  ; 
but  the  body  is  of  Christ.  Let  no  man  beguile 
you  of  your  reward  in  a  voluntary  humility  and 
worshipping  of  angels,  intruding  into  those 
things  which  he  hath  not  seen,  vainly  puffed 
up  by  his  fleshly  mind.  *  *  *  (Touch  not ; 
taste  not ;  handle  not  ;  which  all  are  to  perish 
with  the  using) ;  after  the  commandments  and 
doctrines  of  men.  Which  things  have  indeed  a 
shew  of  wisdom  in  will  worship,  and  humility, 
and  neglecting  of  the  body  ;  not  in  any  honour 
to  the  satisfying  of  the  flesh"  (Col.  2:  16-23). 
Paul  wrote  to  the  saints  in  Rome,  "  The  king- 
dom of  God  is  not  meat  and  drink  ;  but  righte- 
ousness, and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost  " 
(Rom.  14:  17).  To  the  Church  in  Corinth,  he 
writ^  ;  "Meat  commendeth  us  not  to  God:  for 


ERRORS   IN    THE   CHURCHES.  47 

neither,  if  we  eat,  are  we  the  better;  neither  if 
we  eat  not,  are  we  the  worse  "  (i  Cor.  8:  8). 
He  warns  them  lest  they  become  a  stumbling- 
block  to  them  that  are  weak,  not  to  eat  those 
things  which  are  offered  to  idols  "  (i  Cor.  8:  9). 
He  warns  the  Church  of  the  Thessalonians, 
"That  ye  be  not  soon  shaken  in  mind,  or  be 
troubled,  neither  by  spirit,  nor  by  word,  nor  by 
letter  as  from  us,  as  that  the  day  of  Christ  is  at 
hand.  Let  no  man  deceive  you  by  any  means  : 
for  that  day  shall  not  come,  except  there  come 
a  falling  away  first,  and  that  man  of  sin  be  re- 
vealed, the  son  of  perdition;  who  opposeth  and 
exalteth  himself  above  all  that  is  called  God,  or 
that  is  worshipped;  so  that  he  as  God  sitteth  in 
the  temple  of  God,  shewing  himself  that  he  is 
God  "  (2  Thess.  2:  2).  To  Timothy  Paul  writes: 
Now  the  Spirit  speaketh  expressly,  that  in  lat- 
ter times  some  shall  depart  from  the  faith,  giv- 
ing heed  to  seducing  spirits,  and  doctrines  of 
devils;  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy;  having  their 
conscience  seared  with  a  hot  iron;  forbidding  to 
marry,  and  commanding  to  abstain  from  meats  " 
(i  Tim.  4:  i).  A  more  full  description  of  that 
great  apostacy  is  given  in  the  seventeenth  and 
eighteenth  chapters  of  the  Revelation,  where 
the  idolatrous  church  is  described  as  "the  great 
whore  that  sitteth  upon  many  waters:  with 
whom  the  kings  of  the  earth  have  committed 
fornication,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth 
have  been  made  drunk  with  the  ovine  of  her 
fornication.     *    *    *     Drunken  with  the  blood 


48  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

of  the  saints,  and  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs 
of  Jesus.  *  *  *  And  he  said:  The  waters 
which  thou  sawest,  where  the  whore  sitteth, 
are  peoples,  and  multitudes,  and  nations  and 
tongues.  *  *  *  And  the  woman  which  thou 
sawest  is  that  great  city,  which  reigneth  over 
the  kings  of  the  earth  "  (Rev.  17:  1-18).  That 
city  was  Rome.  Those  prophecies  have  been 
fulfilled  in  the  past  history  and  present  doings 
of  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  prediction  of  its 
coming  destruction  we  have  in  the  eighteenth 
chapter  of  Revelation.  In  the  second  and  third 
chapters  of  the  Revelation,  we  have  an  account 
of  the  errors  in  the  seven  churches  in  Asia; 
which  it  would  be  well  for  believers  in  Christ, 
and  particularly  the  elders  of  the  churches  at 
the  present  day  to  study,  that  they  may  avoid 
those  errors;  and  keep  the  churches  now  exist- 
ing, some  of  which  have  the  same  errors  in 
doctrine  and  practice,  from  the  same  destruc- 
tion. The  letter  of  Christ  to  the  Church  of 
Ephesus,  then  one  of  the  grandest  cities  in  the 
world,  is  peculiarly  instructive.  The  descrip- 
tion of  that  church  is  such,  that  it  might  have 
been  supposed  it  would  have  been  preserved 
as  a  model.  It  lacked,  however,  one  thing.  "I 
know  thy  works,  and  thy  labors,  and  thy 
patience,  and  how  thou  canst  not  bear  them 
which  are  evil;  and  thou  hast  tried  them  which 
say  they  are  apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast 
found  them  liars;  and  hast  borne,  and  hast 
patience,  and  for  My  name's  sake  hast  labored 


ERRORS   IN    THE    CHURCHES.  49 

and  hast  not  fainted.  Nevertheless,  I  have 
somewhat  against  thee,  because  thou  hast  left 
.thy  first  love.  Remember,  therefore,  from 
whence  thou  art  fallen,  and  repent,  and  do  the 
first  works,  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee 
quickly,  and  will  remove  thy  candlestick  out  of 
his  place,  except  thou  repent  "  (Rev.  2:  i).  The 
elders  of  the  Church  of  Ephesus  had  previously 
been  warned  by  the  Apostle  Paul.  We  are  told 
that  "  from  Miletus  he  sent  to  Ephesus,  and 
called  the  elders  of  the  church.  And  when 
they  were  come  unto  him,  he  said  unto  them." 
*  *  *  Take  heed  therefore  unto  yourselves, 
and  to  all  the  flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
hath  made  you  overseers  (R.  V.  bishops),  to 
feed  the  Church  of  God,  which  He  hath 
purchased  with  His  own  blood.  For  I 
know  this,  that  after  my  departing  shall 
grievous  wolves  enter  in  among  you,  not 
sparing  the  flock.  Also  of  your  own  selves 
shall  men  arise,  speaking  perverse  things,  to 
draw  away  disciples  after  them"  (Acts  20: 
17,  28).  Both  predictions  have  been  fulfilled. 
The  Church  of  Ephesus  has  been  blotted  out  of 
existence.  And  Ephesus  itself  with  its  great 
temple  of  Diana,  has  disappeared,  leaving  only 
a  few  ruins.  If  the  elders  or  bishops  of  that 
church  had  followed  Paul's  advice  and  con- 
tinued faithful,  the  church  and  the  city  might 
probably  have  been  preserved.  Ten  righteous 
men  would  have  saved  Sodom. 

In  all  ages  the  danger  has  not  been  from  the 


5©  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

world,  but  from  the  visible  Church  becoming 
apostate  and  antichrist.  At  the  present  time, 
there  are  churches  claiming  that  they  are  the 
only  true  Church,  saying  that  they  have  an 
"Historical  Episcopate,"  direct  successors  of  the 
Apostles.  The  churches  that  make  these  claims 
have  not  a  single  church  officer,  bishop,  priest 
or  deacon,  or  a  single  congregation  in  the  world 
such  as  were  the  officers  appointed,  and  the 
congregations  or  churches  formed  by  the 
Apostles.  Any  person  taking  the  word  Apostle, 
Bishop,  Priest,  Deacon  as  found  in  the  New 
Testament,  will  readily  see  this.  The  first 
chapter  of  the  Acts  shows  the  qualifications 
necessary  for  a  person  to  be  chosen  a  successor  of 
an  Apostle.  "Of  these  men  which  have  companied. 
with  us  all  the  time  that  the  Lord  Jesus  went 
in  and  out  among  us,  beginning  from  the  bap- 
tism of  John,  unto  that  same  day  that  He  was 
taken  up  from  us,  must  one  be  ordained  to  be  a 
witness  with  us  of  His  resurrection.  *  *  * 
And  the  lot  fell  upon  Matthias  ;  and  he  was 
numbered  with  the  eleven  Apostles "  (Acts 
1 :  2 1 ).  Since  that  day  no  one  has  had  the  quali- 
fications necessary  to  be  called  a  "  successor  of 
the  Apostles."  Paul  was  especially  called  by 
Christ  to  be  an  Apostle.  He  says:  "  Am  I  not 
an  Apostle  ?  Am  I  not  free  ?  Have  I  not  seen 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  ?"  (i  Cor.  9:  i).  "  After 
that  He  was  seen  of  James;  then  of  all  the 
Apostles.  And  last  of  all  He  was  seen  of  me 
also,  as  of  one  born  out  of  due  time,  for  I  am 


ERRORS   IN    THE    CHURCHES.  5I 

the  least  of  the  Apostles  "  (i  Cor.  15:  7).  The 
believer  in  the  Bible  may  well  be  warned 
against  "false  apostles,  deceitful  workers,  trans- 
forming themselves  into  the  Apostles  of 'Christ " 
(2  Cor.  11:  13).  There  was  no  special  order  of 
priests  in  the  churches  formed  by  the  Apostles. 
The  word  priest  does  not  occur  in  the  New 
Testament  in  connection  with  the  Christian 
ministry.  The  New  Testament  declares  that 
all  believers  are  now  priests.  Peter,  writing 
to  believers  "scattered  throughout  Pontus,  Gal- 
atia,  Cappadocia,  Asia  and  Bithynia,"  tells  them 
'*Ye  are  a  chosen  generation,  a  royal  priest- 
hood, a  holy  nation,  a  peculiar  people;  that  ye 
should  shew  forth  the  praises  of  Him  who  hath 
called  you  out  of  darkness  into  His  marvellous 
light  "  (i  Peter  i :  i ;  2 :  9).  The  praise  of  the  re- 
deemed to  Jesus  Christ  in  heaven  is  "Unto  Him 
that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in 
His  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and 
priests,  unto  God  and  His  Father;  to  Him  be 
glory  and  dominion  forever  and  ever"  (Rev. 
1:5).  "And  they  sing  a  new  song,  saying: 
Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book,  and  to  open 
the  seals  thereof;  for  Thou  wast  slain,  and  hast 
redeemed  us  to  God  by  Thy  blood  out  of  every 
kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  and  nation  ; 
and  hast  made  us  unto  our  God  kings  and 
priests;  and  we  shall  reign  on  the  earth  "  (Rev. 
5:  9;  20:  6).  The  believer  in  the  Bible  should 
beware  of  those  making  claims  to  be  priests,  as 
a  special  order  in  the  Church.     There  was  no 


52  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

such  order  in  the  churches  founded  by  the 
Apostles.  Priestcraft  has  brought  untold  evil 
into  the  Church  and  into  the  world.  In  the 
sixth  chapter  of  the  Acts  we  have  the  founda- 
tion of  the  order  of  Deacons.  They  were  chosen 
simply  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  poor  and 
needy  in  the  Church.  (Acts  6;  Phil,  i:  i;  I  Tim. 
3:  8).  The  most  important  office  in  the  Church 
in  all  ages,  as  rulers  and  teachers,  is  the  office 
of  elder.  An  office  entirely  ignored  by  the 
greater  part  of  the  visible  Church.  If  every 
congregation  of  believers  had  been  organized 
as  was  directed  by  the  Word  of  God,  with 
elders  as  overseers  or  bishops,  and  if  they  had 
been  faithful  to  the  duties  connected  with  the 
office,  the  churches  mentioned  in  the  New 
Testament,  all  of  which  have  disappeared, 
would  still  have  been  lights  in  the  world.  The 
Church  would  not  have  apostatized  and  been  for 
so  long  a  period  antichrist.  In  all  ages  since  the 
Church  was  founded,  elders  were  appointed  to 
rule.  In  most  of  the  time  since  its  foundation 
the  elders  have  not  been  faithful;  and  the 
flocks  have  been  scattered  or  destroyed.  Many 
who  have  received  the  title  of  doctors  of  divinity 
from  colleges,  which  may  be  infidel,  and  have 
no  right  to  confer  such  titles;  are  like  the  watch- 
men in  the  days  of  Isiah.  "  His  watchmen  are 
blind;  they  are  all  ignorant;  they  are  all  dumb 
dogs,  they  cannot  bark "  (Isa.  56:  10).  The 
Word  of  the  Lord  to  Ezekiel  was:  "  So  thou,  O, 
son  of  man,  t  have  set  thee  a  watchman  unto 


ERRORS    IN    THE    CHURCHES.  53 

the  house  of  Israel  ;  therefore  thou  shalt  hear 
the  Word  at  My  mouth,  and  warn  them  from 
Me.  When  I  say  unto  the  wicked  man,  thou 
shalt  surely  die;  if  thou  dost  not  speak  to  warn 
the  wicked  from  his  way,  that  wicked  man  shall 
die  in  his  iniquity;  but  his  blood  will  I  require 
at  thine  hand  "  (Ezek.  33:  7).  The  Apostles,  as 
they  gathered  congregations  of  believers,  had 
chosen  men  ordained  over  each  one  of  them,  as 
elders,  overseers  or  bishops.  All  these  words 
are  used  in  the  New  Testament  to  represent 
the  same  office.  As  it  is  written,  "  And  when 
they  had  ordained  elders  in  every  church " 
(Acts  14:  23).  "  And  the  Apostles  and  Elders 
came  together  for  to  consider  of  this  matter " 
(Acts  15:  6)  ''They  delivered  them  the  decrees 
for  to  keep,  that  were  ordained  by  the  Apostles 
and  Elders  which  were  at  Jerusalem  "  (Acts 
16:  6).  "And  from  Miletus  he  sent  to  Ephesus, 
and  called  the  elders  of  the  church."  And  in 
his  charge  he  tells  them,  "  Take  heed,  there- 
fore, unto  yourselves,  and  to  all  the  flock  over 
which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  over- 
seers (Rev.  Ver.  bishops)  "  (Acts  20:  17,  28). 
In  his  letter  to  the  congregation  at  Philippi,  he 
addresses  it:  "  To  all  the  saints  in  Christ  Jesus 
which  are  at  Philippi,  with  the  bishops  and 
deacons"  (Phil.  1:1).  In  the  epistle  to  Titus, 
he  writes  :  "For  this  cause  I  left  thee  in  Crete, 
that  thou  shouldest  set  in  order  the  things  that 
are  wanting,  and  ordain  elders  in  every  city;  as 
I  had  appointed  thee.     If  any  be  blameless,  the 


54  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

husband  of  one  wife,  having  faithful  children 
not  accused  of  riot,  or  unruly.  For  a  bishop 
must  be  blameless,  as  the  steward  of  God. 
*  *  *  Holding-  fast  the  faithful  Word  as  he 
has  been  taught,  that  he  may  be  able  by  sound 
doctrine  both  to  exhort  and  to  convince  the 
gainsayers "  (Titus  i:  5-10).  According  to 
this,  no  congregation  of  believers,  is  "  set  in 
order,"  without  having  elders  ordained  over  it. 
In  the  Epistle  to  Timothy,  directions  are  given 
relating  to  bishops  and  deacons,  (i  Tim.  3:  i-io; 
5:  I,  19).  The  elders  were  appointed  to  rule 
and  also  to  labor  in  the  Word  and  doctrine. 
*-Let  the  elders  that  rule  well  be  counted 
worthy  of  double  honor,  especially  they  who 
labor  in  the  Word  and  doctrine"  (i  Tim.  5:  17). 
In  his  first  Epistle,  Peter  writes  :  "  The  elders 
which  are  among  you  I  exhort,  who  am  also  an 
elder,  and  a  witness  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ, 
and  also  a  partaker  of  the  glory  that  shall  be 
revealed.  Feed  the  flock  of  God  which  is 
among  you,  taking  the  oversight  thereof,  not 
by  constraint,  but  willingly;  not  for  filthy  lucre, 
but  of  a  ready  mind;  neither  as  being  lords 
over  God's  heritage,  but  being  ensamples  to  the 
flock"  (i  Peters:  i). 

In  the  old  dispensation,  the  priests,  the  sacri- 
fices, the  altar,  and  the  temple  were  types 
which  were  done  away  with  when  they  were 
fulfilled  when  Christ  came.  Most  of  the  great 
cathedrals  in  the  world  in  all  countries  were 
erected  by  an  idolatrous  Church;  and  have  been 


ERRORS    IN    THE    CHURCHES.  55 

hotbeds  of  priestcraft,  ignorance  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, of  the  way  of  salvation,  and  of  the 
grossest  idolatry.  Instead  of  building"  new 
ones,  it  would  be  a  great  benefit  if  they  were 
all  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  "For  thus 
saith  the  high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth 
eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy;  I  dwell  in  the 
high  and  holy  place,  with  him  also  that  is  of  a 
contrite  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the 
humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite 
ones  "  (Isa.  57:  15).  "Thus  saith  the  Lord:  The 
heaven  is  My  throne,  and  the  earth  is  My  foot- 
stool: where  is  the  house  that  ye  build  unto 
Me  ?  And  where  is  the  place  of  My  rest  ?  For 
all  these  things  hath  Mine  hand  made,  and  all 
those  things  have  been,  saith  the  Lord  :  but  to 
this  man  will  I  look,  even  to  him  that  is  poor 
and  of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trembleth  at  My 
Word"  (Isa.  66:  i).  The  children  of  God  are 
now  the  Temple  of  God.  "  Know  ye  not  that 
ye  are  the  Temple  of  God,  and  that  the  Spirit 
of  God  dwelleth  in  you  "  (i  Cor.  3:  16).  "  For 
ye  are  the  Temple  of  the  living  God  ;  as  God 
hath  said,  I  dwell  in  them,  and  walk  in  them  " 
(2  Cor.  6:  16;  Eph.  2:  21,  22). 

The  word  altar  does  not  appear  in  the  New 
Testament,  except  when  referring  to  its  use  in 
the  old,  sacrifices  being  done  away  with,  there 
is  no  more  use  for  altars  in  the  churches.  Sac- 
rifices being  types  of  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  are 
all  done  away  with.  "For  now  once  at  the  end 
of  the  ages  hath  He  been  manifested  to  put 


56  CHILDREN    OF    GOD., 

away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  Himself "  (Heb. 
9:  25-28).  "Sacrifices  and  offerings  and  whole 
burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices  for  sin  thou 
wouldst  not,  neither  hadst  pleasure  therein  (the 
which  are  offered  according  to  the  law),  then 
hath  He  said,  Lo,  I  am  come  to  do  Thy  will. 
He  taketh  away  the  first,  that  He  may  establish 
the  second.  By  which  will  we  have  been  sanc- 
tified through  the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus 
Christ  once  for  all.  And  every  priest  indeed 
standeth  day  by  day  ministering  and  offering 
oftentimes  the  same  sacrifices,  the  which  can 
never  take  away  sins :  but  He  when  He  had 
offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins  forever,  sat  down  on 
the  right  hand  of  God;from  henceforth  expecting 
till  His  enemies  be  made  the  footstool  of  His 
feet.  For  by  one  offering  He  hath  perfected 
forever  them  that  are  sanctified"  (Heb.  10:  8). 
The  Passover  continued  to  be  a  memorial  of 
the  deliverance  from  Egypt  in  the  Church  until 
Christ  was  offered  as  a  sacrifice.  It  was  a 
memorial,  a  type  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
was  done  away  with  when  Christ  was  crucified. 
It  was  at  the  last  celebration  of  the  Passover, 
that  Jesus  said,  **With  desire  I  have  desired  to 
eat  this  Passover  with  you  before  I  suffer  :  for 
I  say  unto  you,  I  will  not  eat  it,  until  it  be  ful- 
filled in  the  kingdom  of  God  "  (Luke  22:  15), 
"Our  Passover  also  hath  been  sacrificed,  even 
Christ"  (i  Cor.  5:  7).  As  the  Passover  was  a 
memorial,  so  is  the  Lord's  Supper.  Christ  said, 
"This  do  in  remembrance  of  Me  "  (Luke  22:  19). 


ERRORS   IN    THE    CHURCHES.  57 

In  the  account  given  i  Cor.  ii:  23  of  the  Sacra- 
ment, it  is  described  as  a  memorial.  "  For  as 
often  as  ye  eat  this  bread,  and  drink  the  cup, 
ye  proclaim  the  Lord's  death  till  He  come." 
They  who  profess  to  turn  the  bread  or  wafer 
into  the  body  of  Christ  and  worship  it,  are 
guilty  of  perversion  of  the  Scriptures,  of  blas- 
phemy and  idolatry.  The  sacrifices  which 
Christians  are  to  offer  are  themselves  and  their 
gifts.  "  I  beseech  you  therefore,  brethren,  by 
the  mercies  of  God,  to  present  your  bodies  a 
living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God,  which 
is  your  reasonable  service  "  (Rev.  Ver.  Margin, 
Spiritual  Worship).  (Rom.  12:  i).  Paul  writes: 
"I  am  filled,  having  received  from  Epaphro- 
ditus  the  things  that  came  from  you,  an  odour 
of  a  sweet  smell,  a  sacrifice  acceptable,  well 
pleasing  to  God  "  (Phil.  4:  18). 

The  Church  which  claims  to  be  "  The 
Church,"  and  that  it  has  "  the  Historical  Epis- 
copacy," is  bearing  its  proper  fruit.  Its  his- 
torical episcopacy  being  insisted  upon;  its  ritual, 
with  the  doctrines  of  baptismal  regeneration, 
its  altar  and  priesthood,  continually  kept  in  the 
foreground,  has  been  leading  that  Church 
rapidly  backward  toward  Rome.  The  number 
of  the  churches  is  increasing  at  a  fearful  rate 
in  Great  Britain^  where  prayers  for  the  dead 
are  offered,  incense  is  used,  the  confessional 
established,  the  consecrated  water  elevated  and 
reserved,  transubstantiation  is  taught,  and  there 
seenxs  nothing  to  separate  its  clerg^y  from  that 


58  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

of  Rome,  but  the  refusal  to  acknowledge  the 
primacy  of  the  Pope,  and  accept  the  celibacy  of 
the  clergy.  These  are  the  inevitable  results  of 
the  teachings  of  all  the  Churches  that  put  their 
traditions  in  the  place  of  the  Word  of  God. 

The  Reformed  Church  of  Holland  was  started 
with  the  soundest  of  creeds  and  with  elders 
according  to  the  Scriptures.  The  neglect  of 
the  elders  allowed  the  State  to  appoint  heretical 
teachers  in  her  theological  schools  to  train 
ministers  for  her  churches.  These  corrupted 
nearly  the  whole  Church.  The  churches  in 
New  England  not  being  formed  with  elders 
according  to  the  Scriptures,  allowed  the  intro- 
duction of  heresies,  universalism  and  unitar- 
ianism,  etc. ;  which  carried  a  great  part  of  them 
into  infidelity.  The  neglect  of  the  elders  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  controlling  some  of  its 
theological  seminaries,  has  allowed  the  entrance 
of  errors  which  have  caused  much  evil  and 
trouble  in  that  branch  of  the  Church. 

If  the  elders  of  the  Churches  were  faithful  in 
seeing  that  their  ministers,  evangelists  and 
teachers  preached  the  Law  of  God,  the  wrath 
to  come,  and  the  Gospel,  as  Christ  and  the 
Apostles  preached  them,  there  would  be  fewer 
murders,  less  suicides,  less  crime  and  more 
souls  saved.  It  is  written  of  the  Bereans:  "These 
were  more  noble  than  those  in  Thessalonica,  in 
that  they  received  the  Word  with  all  readiness 
of  mind,  and  searched  the  Scriptures  daily, 
whether  those  things  were  so"   (Acts  17:  11). 


ERRORS    IN    THE    CHURCHES. 


59 


Believers  must  try  the  teachings  of  their 
Church  by  the  Scriptures.  The  elders  of  the 
Churches  are  bound  to  take  heed  to  the  flocks 
over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  them 
bishops,  to  keep  them  from  being  scattered  or 
destroyed. 


OT 


6o  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


THE  WAY  OF  SALVATION. 

The  Bible  tells  us,  that  there  is  only  one  way 
of  salvation.  That  way  has  been  provided  by 
God.  Man  never  would  have  discovered  it; 
and  man  everywhere  rejects  it.  That  way  was 
the  same  before  Christ  came,  that  it  is  now.  It 
is  the  only  way  in  which  man  can  go  to  God. 
In  that  way  God's  law  is  honored,  and  His 
justice  satisfied;  the  sins  of  the  believer  are 
atoned  for;  and  the  sinner  is  not  only  justified, 
but  is  also  sanctified.  His  natural  heart  is 
changed,  he  is  created  anew.  Man  is  con- 
demned to  death,  and  "  without  shedding  of 
blood  there  is  no  remission "  (Heb.  0:  22). 
Christ  was  "made  sin  for  us"  (2  Cor.  5:  21), 
and  "bore  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the 
tree"  (i  Pet.  2:  24).  The  sacrifices  offered  by 
the  patriarchs,  and  according  to  the  laws  of 
Moses,  were  all  ordered  by  God,  and  were  types 
of  the  sacrifice  of  Christ.  "  The  Lamb  of  God 
slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world"  (Rev. 
13:  8).  The  coming  of  Christ  was  announced 
immediately  after  the  Fall.  "The  Lord  God 
said  unto  the  serpent,  *  *  *  And  I  will  put 
enmity  between  thee  and  the  woman,  and  be- 
tween thy  seed  and  her  seed;  it  shall  bruise  thy 
head,   and  thou  shalt  bruise  his  heel"   (Gen. 


THE    WAY    OF    SALVATION.  6l 

3:  15).  This  enmity  has  shown  itself  to  the 
present  day.  "  The  children  of  God  are  mani- 
fest, and  the  children  of  the  devil"  (i  John 
3:  10).  "  Cain,  who  was  of  that  wicked  one,  and 
slew  his  brother,  and  wherefore  slew  he  him  ? 
Because  his  own  works  were  evil,  and  his 
brother's  righteous"  (i  John  3:  12).  Jesus  told 
the  rulers  of  the  church  in  His  day,  "  Ye  are  of 
your  father  the  devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your 
father  ye  will  do.  He  was  a  murderer  from  the 
beginning,  and  abode  not  in  the  truth  "  (John 
8:  44).  John  the  Baptist,  before,  had  addressed 
them,  "O  generation  of  vipers"  (Matt.  3:  7). 
Jesus  uses  the  same  words,  Matt.  12:  34;  and 
again,  "  Ye  serpents,  ye  generation  of  vipers, 
how  can  ye  escape  the  damnation  of  hell  ? " 
(Matt.  23:  ^^).  Believers  in  the  Bible  must 
bear  in  mind  that  these  words  were  used  against 
the  rulers  of  the  church.  The  seed  of  the  ser- 
pent still  bears  rule  in  portions  of  the  church, 
opposing  Christ  and  His  teachings.  "  By  faith 
Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice 
than  Cain"  (Heb.  11:4).  Faith  in  the  Lamb  slain, 
which  God  had  provided.  Christ  was  again 
made  known  in  the  promise  made  to  Abraham, 
"  In  thee  shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed"  (Gen.  12:  3).  Jesus  said,  "Your 
father,  Abraham,  rejoiced  to  see  My  day; 
and  he  saw  it,  and  was  glad "  (John  8: 
56).  Job  said,  "  I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth,  and  that  He  shall  stand  up  at  the  last 
upon  the  earth  "  (Job  19:  25).    All  the  forms  of 


62  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

worship  ordered  by  God,  through  Moses,  were 
types  of  Christ.  Access  to  God,  the  forgiveness 
of  sins,  and  His  blessing,  being  all  obtained 
through  the  appointed  sacrifices.  In  the  Psalms 
we  have  the  gospel  and  its  effects  upon  be- 
lievers. "  Blessed  is  he  whose  transgression  is 
forgiven,  whose  sin  is  covered.  Blessed  is  the 
man  unto  whom  the  Lord  imputeth  not  iniquity" 
(Psm.  32:  i).  "Jehovah  is  my  Shepherd,  I 
shall  not  want"  (Psm.  23).-  "  Bless  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul:  and  all  that  is  within  me  bless  His 
holy  name  *  *  *  who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniqui- 
ties; who  healeth  all  thy  diseases;  whoredeem- 
eth  thy  life  from  destruction.  *  *  *  As  far  as 
the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  hath  He  re- 
moved our  transgressions  from  us"  (Psm.  103: 
I,  3,  12;  Psm.  91,  etc.,  etc.).  Christ  is  clearly 
revealed  in  the  53rd  chapter  of  Isaiah.  "Surely 
He  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our  sor- 
rows: yet  we  did  esteem  Him  stricken,  smitten 
of  God,  and  afflicted.  But  He  was  wounded  for 
our  transgressions,  He  was  bruised  for  our 
iniquities;  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was 
upon  Him;  and  with  His  stripes  we  are  healed. 
All  we,  like  sheep,  have  gone  astray;  we  have 
turned  every  one  to  his  own  way;  and  the  Lord 
had  laid  on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all."  The 
whole  chapter  is  full  of  the  Gospel.  Christ, 
after  his  resurrection,  said,  "These  are  the 
words  which  I  spake  unto  you,  while  I  was  yet 
with  you,  that  all  things  must  be  fulfilled,  which 
were  written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in  the 


THE    WAY    OF    SALVATION.  63 

Prophets,  and  in  the  Psalms,  concerning  mc  '* 
(Luke  24:  27,  44). 

Much  of  what  is  done  in  the  cities  at  the 
present  time,  under  the  pretence  of  drawing 
men  to  hear  the  Gospel,  degrades  the  message 
of  God,  and  is  insulting  God.  He  sends  His 
ambassadors  to  preach  the  Gospel  and  to  be- 
seech men  to  be  reconciled  to  Him.  His  mes- 
sage is.  Repent  and  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  This  message  is  to  be  delivered  to  all; 
whether  rich  or  poor,  learned  or  ignorant; 
whether  in  the  church  or  out  of  it.  Unless  they 
repent  and  believe,  they  will  all  likewise  perish. 
The  message  is,  "  God  so  loved  the  world,  that 
He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life.  For  God  sent  not  His  Son  into 
the  world  to  condemn  the  world;  but  that  the 
world  through  Him,  might  be  saved "  (John 
3:  16).  When  Christ  was  born,  God  sent  an 
angel  to  announce  that  salvation,  saying,  "  Be- 
hold, I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy, 
which  ^shall  be  to  all  people.  For  unto  you  is 
bom  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a  Saviour, 
which  is  Christ  the  Lord"  (Luke  2:  10).  There 
is  only  one  way  by  which  man  can  return  to 
God.  "Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  the 
truth,  and  the  life:  no  man  cometh  unto  the 
Father,  but  by  Me  "  (John  14:  6).  "All  things 
are  delivered  to  Me  of  My  Father:  and  no  man 
knoweth  who  the  Son  is,  but  the  Father;  and 
who  the  Father  is,  but  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom 


64  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

the  Son  will  reveal  Him  "  (Luke  lo:  22).  "  For 
after  that  in  the  wisdom  of  God  the  world  by 
wisdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleased  God  by  the 
foolishness  of  preaching  to  save  them  that  be- 
lieve" (i  Cor.  i:  21).  In  his  epistle  to  the 
Corinthians,  Paul  says,  "And  I,  brethren,  when 
I  came  to  you,  came  not  with  excellency  of 
speech,  or  of  wisdom,  declaring  unto  you  the 
testimony  of  God.  For  I  determined  not  to 
know  any  thing  among  you,  save  Jesus  Christ, 
and  Him  crucified"  (i  Cor.  2:  i).  To  the 
Romans  Paul  writes,  "  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the 
Gospel  of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto 
salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth  "  (Rom. 
i:  16).  "So  then,  faith  cometh  by  hearing, 
and  hearing  by  the  Word  of  God"  (Rom. 
i:  17). 

Christ  sends  His  disciples  to  deliver  a  certain 
message  in  His  name.  When  the  Lord  sent 
Jonah  to  Nineveh,  he  said  unto  him,  "Arise, 
go  unto  Nineveh,  that  great  city,  and  preach 
unto  it  the  preaching  that  I  bid  thee."  Jonah 
did  not,  as  is  too  much  the  case  nowadays,  offer 
bribes  or  inducements  to  the  people  of  Nineveh 
to  come  and  hear  him.  But  Jonah  arose,  and 
went  unto  Nineveh,  according  to  the  word  of 
the  Lord.  Now,  Nineveh  was  an  exceeding 
great  city  of  three  days*  journey.  And  Jonah 
began  to  enter  into  the  city  a  day's  journey, 
and  he  cried  and  said,  "Yet  forty  days,  and 
Nineveh  shall  be  overthrown  "  (Jonah  3:  i). 
The  result  was,  the  people  believed  God,  pro- 


THE    WAY    OF    SALVATION.  C$ 

claimed  a  fast,  put  on  sack-cloth,  and  turned 
from  their  evil  way  and  were  forgiven.  On 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  when  the  Apostles  began 
to  preach  in  Jerusalem,  no  bribes  or  induce- 
ments were  offered  to  draw  men  to  hear  the 
Gospel.  According  to  the  command  of  Jesus, 
they  remained  in  prayer  with  the  disciples, 
until  they  received  power  from  the  Holy  Ghost. 
When  they  recived  that  power  they  commenced 
preaching  Christ,  using  almost  entirely  words 
from  that  portion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  known 
to  us  as  the  Old  Testament,  foretelling  the 
coming  of  Christ,  and  the  outpouring  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Telling  them  that  Christ  had 
come;  and  they,  although  they  had  seen  the 
signs  and  wonders  attesting  Him,  had  rejected 
Him.  "  Him  being  delivered  by  the  determin- 
ate counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God  ye  have 
taken  and  by  wicked  hands  have  crucified  and 
slain. "  "  This  Jesus  hath  God  raised  up,  whereof 
we  all  are  witnesses.  Therefore  being  by  the 
right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and  having  received 
of  the  Father  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
He  hath  shed  forth  this,  which  ye  now  see  and 
hear."  *  *  "  Therefore,  let  all  the  house  of 
Israel  know,  assuredly,  that  God  hath  made 
that  same  Jesus,  whom  ye  have  crucified,  both 
Lord  and  Christ.  Now,  when  they  heard  this, 
they  were  pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said  unto 
Peter  and  to  the  rest  of  the  apostles.  Men  and 
brethren  what  shall  we  do  ?  Then  Peter  said 
unto  them.  Repent,  and  be  baptized  every  one 


66  CHILDREM    OF    GOD. 

of  you  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  re- 
mission of  sms,  and  ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  *  *  *  And  the  same  day  there 
were  added  unto  them  about  three  thousand 
souls"  (Acts  2:  14-41).  Immediately  after  the 
day  of  Pentecost,  Peter  preached  again,  using 
almost  the  same  words;  and  the  record  says, 
"  Many  of  them  which  heard  the  word  believed, 
and  the  number  of  men  was  about  five  thou- 
sand" (Acts  3:  12-26;  4:  4).  Since  that  time, 
in  all  countries,  and  in  all  ages,  where  the  same 
Gospel  has  been  faithfully  preached,  the  same 
results  have  followed.  Luther  in  Germany, 
John  Knox  in  Scotland,  John  Wesley  in  Eng- 
land, Whitfield  and  Moody,  by  preaching  Christ 
and  the  simple  Gospel,  have  been  the  means  of 
bringing  tens  of  thousands  to  Christ.  The 
great  aim  of  these  reformers  was  not  to  reform 
men,  but  to  renew  them;  not  to  attack  specific 
sins,  but  to  destroy  the  root  of  every  sin  by  a 
change  of  the  heart.  This  they  accomplished 
by  preaching  Christ,  and  the  doctrines  of  grace; 
the  only  way  to  reform  and  to  elevate  man. 
The  only  way  ordained  by  Christ  to  save  man. 
The  only  way  attended  and  made  effectual  by 
the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

These  results  have  always  followed  preaching 
Christ  among  the  heathen.  The  Moravians 
labored  in  Greenland  for  several  years  without 
success.  One  of  them,  while  translating  Mat- 
thew's Gospel,  was  visited  by  a  number  of  the 
natives,  who  desired  to  know  the  contents  of 


THE    WAY    OF    SALVATION.  67 

the  book.  The  missionary  gratified  their  desire ; 
told  them  of  man's  fall  by  sin,  and  his  recovery 
by  Christ;  enlarged  with  energy  and  feeling 
upon  the  price  of  redemption,  and  then  read 
from  the  book  in  his  hand  the  history  of  our 
Saviour's  agony  in  the  garden.  The  account 
goes  on  to  state,  "  Now,  the  Spirit  of  God 
began  to  work,"  and  from  that  time  the  work 
went  on  with  great  speed  and  power,  and  a 
large  number  of  consistent  and  steadfast  con- 
verts were  made.  The  same  results  followed 
the  preaching  of  David  Brainerd,  who  died 
over  a  century  ago,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
nine;  greatly  beloved,  and  greatly  lamented. 
His  missionary  labors  were  among  the  Indians 
in  New  Jersey.  They  were  ignorant  and  stupid, 
steeped  in  sensuality,  given  over  to  the  love  of 
strong  drink,  without  natural  affection,  and  full 
of  prejudices  against  white  men.  Their  lan- 
guage was  not  known  by  the  missionary,  who 
was  compelled  to  preach  to  them  by  an  indiffer- 
ent interpreter;  and  his  instructions,  when 
understood,  were  zealously  opposed  by  wicked 
white  men.  Yet,  notwithstanding  all  these 
obstacles,  the  Spirit  of  God  was  poured  out  upon 
them.  Within  the  short  space  of  eleven 
months,  seventy-seven  of  these  poor  creatures 
were  converted.  From  being  drunken,  howling 
savages,  they  became  devout  and  intelligent 
Christians.  Mr.  Brainerd  states  in  his  remarks 
concerning  the  work: 

"  I   can  not  but  take  notice  that  I  have  in 


68  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

general,  ever  since  my  first  coming  among  the 
Indians  in  New  Jersey,  been  favored  with  that 
assistance  which,  to  me,  is  uncommon^  in  preach- 
ing Christ  crucified^  and  making  Him  the  centre 
and  mark  to  which  all  my  discourses  among 
them  were  directed. 

"  It  was  the  principal  scope  and  drift  of  all  my 
disccurses  to  this  people  for  several  months  to- 
gether, (after  having  taught  them  something  of 
the  bei7ig  axid,  perfections  of  God,  His  creation  of 
man  in  a  state  of  rectitude  and  happiness,  and 
the  obligations  mankind  were  thence  under  to 
love  and  honor  Him),  to  lead  them  into  an  ac- 
quaintance with  their  deplorable  state  by 
nature,  as  fallen  creatures  ;  their  inability  to  ex- 
tricate and  deliver  themselves  from  it ;  the 
utter  insufficiency  of  any  external  reformations 
and  amendments  of  life,  or  of  any  religious  per- 
formances of  which  they  were  capable,  while  in 
this  state,  to  bring  them  into  the  favor  of  God, 
and  interest  them  in  His  eternal  mercy;  thence 
to  show  them  their  absolute  need  of  Christ,  to 
redeem  and  save  them  from  the  misery  of  their 
fallen  state;  to  open  His  all-sufficiency  and  will- 
ingness to  save  the  chief  of  sinners;  thQ  freeness 
and  riches  of  divine  grace,  proposed  "  without 
money  and  without  price,"  to  all  who  will  ac- 
cept the  offer;  thereupon  to  press  them,  without 
delay,  to  betake  themselves  to  Him,  under  a 
sense  of  their  misery  and  undone  state,  for  re- 
lief and  everlasting  salvation;  and  to  show  them 
the  abundant  encouragement  the  Gospel  pro- 


THE    WAY    OF    SALVATION.  69 

poses  to  needy,  perishintj,  and  helpless  sinners, 
in  order  to  engage  them  so  to  do.  These  things 
I  repeatedly  and  largely  insisted  upon,  from 
time  to  time. 

**  When  these  truths  were  felt  at  hearty  there 
was  now  no  vice  unreformed,  no  external  duty 
neglected.  Drunkenness,  the  darling  vice,  was 
broken  off  from,  and  scarce  an  instance  of  it 
known  among  my  hearers,  for  months  together. 
The  abusive  practice  of  husbands  and  wives^  in 
putting  away  each  other,  and  taking  others  in 
their  stead,  was  quickly  reformed,  so  that  there 
are  three  or  four  couple  who  have  voluntarily 
dismissed  those  whom  they  had  wrongfully 
taken,  and  now  live  together  in  love  and  peace. 
The  same  might  be  said  of  all  other  vicious 
practices.  The  reformation  was  general,  and 
all  springing  from  the  internal  influence  of 
divine  truths  upon  their  hearts,  and  not  from 
any  external  restraints,  or  because  they  had 
heard  these  vices  particularly  exposed  and  re- 
peatedly spoken  against.  Some  of  them  I 
never  so  much  as  mentioned,  particularly  that 
of  the  parting  of  men  and  their  wives,  till  some, 
having  their  conscience  awakened  by  God's 
word,  came,  and  of  their  own  accord  confessed 
themselves  guilty  in  that  respect." — Brainerd's 
Remarks^  by  Rev.  Talbot  IV.  Chambers. 

Wherever  the  Word  of  God  is  faithfully 
preached,  God's  law  will  be  presented,  and 
Christ  offered,  as  the  only  way  of  salvation. 
The  Lord  Jesus  has  promised  to  be  with  him 


70  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

who  delivers  His  message.  The  Holy  Spirit 
will  give  power  to  the  truth;  then  men  will  be 
convicted  of  sin,  will  be  led  to  receive  Christ, 
and  will  be  saved.  This  is  God's  plan  to  save 
men.  "And  in  none  other  is  there  salvation; 
for  neither  is  there  any  other  name  under 
heaven,  that  is  given  among  men,  wherein  we 
must  be  saved  "  (Acts  3:  12). 

"As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilder- 
ness, even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up; 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  may  have 
eternal  life  "  (John  3:  14).  Men  are  perishing, 
and  will  die  forever  unless  they  look  to  Christ 
and  believe  in  Him.  "  He  that  believeth  not 
hath  been  judged  already  "  (John  3:  18).  "  He 
that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life: 
and  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see 
life,  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him  " 
(John  3:  36). 


SPECIAL   CALLS   OF    GOD.  71 


SPECIAL  CALLS  OF  GOD. 

While  God  "  now  commandeth  all  men  every- 
where to  repent "  (Acts  17:  30) ;  in  all  ages  He 
has  made  special  calls  on  some.  To  all  men, 
"  The  wrath  of  God  is  revealed  from  heaven 
against  all  ungodliness  and  unrighteousness  of 
men,  who  hold  the  truth  in  unrighteousness. 
Because  that  which  may  be  known  of  God  is 
manifest  in  them;  for  God  hath  shewed  it  unto 
them.  For  the  invisible  things  of  Him  from 
the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being 
understood  by  the  things  that  are  made,  even 
His  eternal  power  and  Godhead;  so  that  they 
are  without  excuse"  (Rom.  i:  18).  "God,  who 
at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners,  spoke 
in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the  prophets, 
hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by  His 
Son,  whom  he  hath  appointed  heir  of  all  things, 
by  whom  also  He  made  the  worlds;  who,  being 
the  brightness  of  His  glory,  and  the  express 
image  of  His  person,  and  upholding  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power,  when  He  had  by 
Himself  purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on  the  right 
hand  of  the  majesty  on  high  "  (Heb.  i:  i).  The 
great  call  of  God  to  men  is,  to  hear  Him.  "  Lo! 
a  voice  from  heaven  saying.  This  is  My  beloved 
Son  "  (Matt.  3:  17).  "This  is  My  beloved  Son, 
*  *  *  hear  ye  Him  "  (Matt.  17:  5). 


72  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

The  Bible  mentions  many  special  calls  of 
God  to  individuals.  When  Adam  tried  to  hide 
himself,  "  The  Lord  God  called  unto  Adam,  and 
said  unto  him.  Where  art  thou?''  (Gen.  3:  9). 
"And  the  Lord  said  imto  Noah,  Come,  thou,  and 
all  thy  house  into  the  ark  "  (Gen.  7:  i).  "  The 
Lord  had  said  unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of  thy 
country,  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from  thy 
father's  house,  unto  a  land  that  I  will  shew 
thee"  (lien.  12:  i;  22:  15-22).  "  I  called  him 
alone  and  blessed  him  and  prospered  him  "  (Isai. 
51:2),  "  The  angel  of  God  called  to  Hagar  out  of 
heaven"  (Gen.2 1 :  17).  God  called  unto  Moses  out 
of  the  midst  of  the  bush,  and  said,  Moses,  Moses" 
(Exod.  3:  4).  "  The  Lord  came,  and  stood,  and 
called  as  at  other  times,  Samuel,  Samuel " 
(i  Sam.  3:  4,  6,  8,  10).  Jesus  called  Paul,  "And 
he  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  him, 
Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  Me  ?  And  he 
said.  Who  art  Thou,  Lord  ?  And  the  Lord  said, 
I   am  Jesus  whom    thou    persecutest "    (Acts 

9:  4). 

The  Bible  contains  calls  to  all  men.  The  call 
by  Isaiah  750  years  before  Christ  was,  "  Ho, 
every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters, 
and  he  that  hath  no  money;  come  ye,  buy  and 
eat;  yea,  come  buy  wine  and  milk  without 
money  and  without  price.  Wherefore  do  ye 
spend  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread  ?  and 
your  labour  for  that  which  satisfieth  not  ?  hearken 
diligently  unto  Me,  and  eat  that  which  is  good, 
and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in  fatness.     In- 


SPECIAL    CALLS    OF    GOD.  73 

cline  your  ear,  and  come  unto  me;  hear,  and 
your  soul  shall  live"  (Isaiah  55:  i).  The  call 
by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is,  "  Come  unto  me, 
all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will 
give  you  rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and 
learn  of  me;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart: 
and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  my 
yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  light"  (Matt.  11: 
28).  He  also  says,  "  Him  that  cometh  to  Me  I 
will  in  nowise  cast  out "  (John  6:  37).  The  call 
in  the  last  chapter  of  the  Bible  is,  "  And  the 
Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And  let  him 
that  heareth  say.  Come.  And  let  him 
that  is  athirst  come.  And  whosoever  will,  let 
him  take  the  water  of  life  freely  "  (Rev.  22:  17). 
Jesus  "calleth  His  own  sheep  by  name,  and 
leadeth  them  out  *  *  *  He  goeth  before  them, 
and  the  sheep  follow  Him:  for  they  know  His 
voice"  (John  10:  4).  "And  we  know  that  to 
them  that  love  God  all  things  work  together  for 
good,  to  them  that  are  called  according  to  His 
purpose.  For  whom  He  foreknew,  He  also 
foreordained  to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of 
His  Son,  that  he  might  be  the  firstborn  among 
many  brethren:  and  whom  He  foreordained, 
them  He  also  called:  and  whom  He  called,  them 
He  also  justified:  and  whom  He  justified,  them 
He  also  glorified"  (Rom.  8:  28).  And  Jesus 
"  calleth  unto  him  whom  He  would:  and  they 
came  unto  Him.  And  He  ordained  twelve,  that 
they  should  be  with  Him,  and  that  He  might 
send  them  forth  to  preach  "  (Mark  3:  13).     "Ye 


74  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen  you  " 
(John  15:  i6,  19;  6:70;  13:  18).  "  The  Master 
is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee"  (Luke  11:  28). 
**  Faithful  is  He  that  calleth  you,  who  also  will 
do  it "  ( I  Thess.  5 :  24).  "  Who  hath  saved  us, 
and  called  us  with  an  holy  calling,  not  accord- 
ing to  our  works,  but  according  to  His  own 
purpose  and  grace,  which  was  given  us  in 
Christ  Jesus  before  the  world  began  "  (2  Tim. 

i:  9). 

God's  calls  to  His  people  to  give  up  their 
idolatry  and  return  to  Him,  repeated  again  and 
again,  in  almost  every  age,  are  very  touching, 
and  full  of  pathos.  They  offer,  like  the  Parable 
of  the  Prodigal  Son,  not  only  forgiveness,  but 
a  loving  reception  to  the  backslider  and  the 
fallen,  if  they  will  repent  and  turn  to  God. 
"  My  people  are  bent  to  backsliding  from  me. 
*  *  *  How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim  ? 
how  shall  I  deliver  thee,  Israel  ?  how  shall  I 
make  thee  as  Admah  ?  how  shall  I  set  thee  as 
Zeboim  ?  Mine  heart  is  turned  within  me,  my 
repentings  are  "kindled  together.  I  will  not 
execute  the  fierceness  of  mine  anger,  I  will  not 
return  to  destroy  Ephraim:  for  I  am  God,  and 
not  man  "  (Hosea  11:7).  "Is  Ephraim  my  dear 
son  ?  is  he  a  pleasant  child  ?  for  since  I  spake 
against  him,  I  do  earnestly  remember  him  still; 
therefore  my  bowels  are  troubled  for  him:  I 
will  surely  have  mercy  upon  him,  saith  the 
Lord"  (Jer.  31:  20).  "O  Israel,  thoushalt  not 
be  forgotten  of  me.     I  have  blotted  out,  as  a 


fePECIAL    CALLS    OF    GOD.  7^ 

thick  cloud,  thy  transgressions,  and,  as  a  cloud, 
thy  sins:  return  unto  me;  for  I  have  redeemed 
thee  "  (Isai.  44:  2 1 ).  "  Return,  thou  backsliding 
Israel,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not  cause 
mine  anger  to  fall  upon  you:  for  I  am  merciful, 
saith  the  Lord"  (Jer.  3:  12).  "Return,  ye 
backsliding  children,  and  I  will  heal  your  back- 
sliding "  (Jer.  3:  22).  "I  have  spoken  unto 
you,  rising  early,  and  speaking;  but  ye  heark- 
ened not  unto  me.  I  have  sent  also  unto  you 
all  my  servants  the  prophets,  rising  up  early 
and  sending  them,  saying,  Return  ye  now  every 
man  from  his  evil  way,  and  amend  your  doings, 
and  go  not  after  other  gods  to  serve  them  " 
(Jer.  35:  14).  "  For  why  will  ye  die,  O  hou.se  of 
Israel  ?  For  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of 
him  that  dieth,  saith  the  Lord  God:  wherefore 
turn  yourselves,  and  live  ye"  (Ezek.  18:  31). 
"Now,  therefore,  if  ye  will  obey  my  voice 
indeed,  and  keep  my  covenant,  then  ye  shall  be 
a  peculiar  treasure  unto  me  above  all  people: 
for  all  the  earth  is  mine.  And  ye  shall  be  unto 
me  a  kingdom  of  priests,  and  an  holy  nation  " 
(Exod.  19:  5).  "For  thou  art  an  holy  people 
unto  the  Lord,  thy  God,  and  the  Lord  hath 
chosen  thee  to  be  a  peculiar  people  unto  Him- 
self, above  all  the  nations  that  are  upon  the 
earth  "  (Deut.  14:  2).  "  But  ye  are  are  a  chosen 
generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  an  holy  nation,  a 
peculiar  people:  that  ye  should  show  forth  the 
praises  of  Him  who  hath  called  you  out  of  dark- 
ness into  His  marvellous  light"  (i  Pet.  2:  9). 


76  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

"  Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them,  and 
be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  touch  not  -the 
unclean  thing;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  will 
be  a  Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons 
and  daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty " 
(2  Cor.  6:  17).  "And  the  God  of  all  grace,  who 
hath  called  you  unto  His  eternal  glory  in  Christ, 
after  that  ye  have  suffered  awhile,  shall  Himself 
perfect,  stablish,  strengthen  you.  To  Him  be 
the  dominion  for  ever  and  ever.    Amen  "  (i  Pet. 

5:  lo)- 


GOD    COMMANDETH    ALL    MEN    TO    REPENT.        77 


GOD  COMMANDETH  ALL  MEN  EVERY- 
WHERE TO  REPENT. 

Man,  a  sinner  by  nature  and  by  practice, 
"is  condemned  already"  (John  3:  i8).  And 
"the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him"  (John  3: 
36).  While  he  remains  in  rebellion  against  God, 
he  is  increasing  his  guilt  and  his  indebtedness 
every  moment  of  his  existence.  He  takes  ad- 
vantage of  the  long  suffering  of  God  "to 
usward,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but 
that  all  should  come  to  repentance"  (2  Pet. 
3:  9).  Proving,  as  the  Word  of  God  says,  that 
"  Because  sentence  against  an  evil  work  is  not 
executed  speedily,  therefore  the  heart  of  the 
sons  of  men  is  fully  set  in  them  to  do  evil " 
(Eccl.  8:  11).  God  "now  commandeth  all  men 
everywhere  to  repent:  because  He  hath  ap- 
pointed a  day;  in  the  which  He  will  judge  the 
world"  (Acts  17:  30). 

The  first  step  to  save  men  is  to  convict  them 
of  sin.  Unless  this  is  done,  they  will  not  repent 
and  will  not  accept  Christ.  The  first  work  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  is,  "  He  will  convict  the  world 
of  sin"  (John  16:  8).  The  first  preaching  to 
men  recorded  in  the  New  Testament  was  com- 
manding them  to  repent.  No  baits  were  offered 
to  allure  men  to  come  and  hear  the  Gospel,  as 
is  being  done  at  the  present  time.    The  mes- 


78  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

senger  was  sent  by  God,  to  deliver  the  message 
of  God.  Repent!  for  you  are  lost.  It  is  to  be 
remembered  that  these  messengers  and  the 
messages  were  sent  first  to  the  church.  "And 
that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be 
preached  in  His  name  among  all  nations,  begin- 
ning at  Jerusalem  "  (Luke  24:  47).  John  the 
Baptist  began  preaching,  saying,  "  Repent  ye: 
for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand  "  (Matt. 
3:  i).  And  "  Jesus  came  into  Galilee,  preaching 
the  gospel  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  saying, 
the  time  is  fulfilled,  and  the  kingdom  of  God  is 
at  hand:  repent  ye,  and  believe  the  Gospel  " 
(Mark  i:  14).  "And  He  called  unto  Him  the 
twelve,  and  began  to  send  them  forth  two  and 
two."  ''And  they  went  out  and  preached  that 
men  should  repent"  (Mark  6:  7,  12).  On  the  day 
of  Pentecost,  after  Peter's  preaching,  the  record 
says,  "  Now  when  they  heard  this,  they  were 
pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter  and 
to  the  rest  of  the  apostles,  Men  and  brethren, 
what  shall  we  do  ?  Then  Peter  said  unto  them, 
Repent,  and  be  baptized  every  one  of  yon  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  for  the  remission  of  sins,and 
ye  shall  receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost  "  (Acts 
2: 37).  And  again  he  says,  "  Repent  ye  therefore, 
and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted 
out,  when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall  come 
from  the  presence  of  the  Lord;  and  He  shall 
send  Jesus  Christ  which  before  was  preached 
unto  you  "  (Acts  3:  19).  Paul  says,  God  "  now 
commandeth  all  men   everywhere  to  repent: 


GOD    COMMANDETH    ALL    MEN    TO    REPENT.        79 

because  He  hath  appointed  a  day,  in  the  which 
He  will  judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by 
that  man  whom  He  hath  ordained;  whereof  He 
hath  given  assurance  unto  all  men,  in  that  He 
hath  raised  Him  from  the  dead"  (Acts  17:  30). 
Jesus  said  unto  Paul,  "  I  have  appeared  unto 
thee  for  this  purpose,  to  make  thee  a  minister 
and  a  witness  both  of  these  things  which  thou 
hast  seen,  and  of  those  things  in  the  which  I 
will  appear  unto  thee;  delivering  thee  from  the 
people,  and  from  the  gentiles,  unto  whom  now 
I  send  thee,  to  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn  them 
from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive  forgive- 
ness of  sins,  and  inheritance  among  them  which 
are  sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me"  (Acts  26:  16). 
Paul,  speaking  of  this  vision  to  Agrippa,  adds, 
"Whereupon,  O  King  Agrippa,  I  was  not  dis- 
obedient unto  the  heavenly  vision,  but  shewed 
first  unto  them  of  Damascus,  and  at  Jerusalem, 
and  throughout  all  the  coasts  of  Judea,  and 
then  to  the  Gentiles,  that  they  should  repent 
and  turn  to  God,  and  do  works  meet  for  repent- 
ance "  (Acts  26:  19). 

The  first  duty  of  every  messenger  of  God  to 
men  is  to  call  them  to  repentance.  This  same 
message  is  to  be  delivered  in  the  palaces  or  the 
slums;  in  the  churches  and  in  the  highways. 
This  must  be  first.  The  giving  of  food,  wash- 
ing and  clothing  the  poor,  and  giving  them 
ethical  culture,  may  follow,  as  the  fruits  of  the 
Gospel,  but  must  not  be  put  before  it.     "  Say 


So  CHII.DRKN    OV    COD. 

unto  them,  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have 
no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked;  but 
that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live: 
turn  ye,  turn  ye  from  your  evil  ways;  for  why 
will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel  ?"  (Ezek.  ^^:  ii). 
Baptism,  confirmation,  taking  the  com- 
munion, joining  the  church,  do  not  regenerate, 
or  make  children  of  God.  They  who  depend 
on  these  things,  as  was  the  case  with  the  rulers 
and  teachers  in  the  church  in  the  days  of 
Christ,  not  only  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  God,  but  do  not  see  it;  do  not  know  what  the 
kingdom  of  God  is.  Talking  with  Nicodemus, 
a  ruler  in  the  church,  "  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  him,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except 
a  man  be  bom  anew  (from  above),  he  cannot 
see  the  kingdom  of  God"  (John  3:  3).  In  all 
ages  the  great  danger  has  been,  having  false 
teachers  and  rulers  in  the  church,  deceiving  the 
people  by  putting  their  traditions  in  the  place 
of  the  Scriptures  and  leading  their  followers 
into  idolatry.  Jeremiah  writes  of  the  church 
in  his  day,  "From  the  least  even  unto  the 
greatest  of  them  every  one  is  given  to  covetous- 
ness;  and  from  the  prophet  even  unto  the 
priest  every  one  dealeth  falsely.  They  have 
healed  also  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my  peo- 
ple slightly,  saying.  Peace,  peace;  when  there  is 
no  peace  "  (Jer.  6:  13).  John  the  Baptist  said 
to  the  leaders  of  the  church  in  his  day,  who  had 
come  to  his  baptism,  "  O  generation  of  vipers, 
who  hath  warned  you  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come?"  (Matt.  3:  7;  Mark  3:  7,  8). 


GOD    COMMANDETH    ALL   MEN    TO    REPENT.       8l 

In  the  twenty-third  chapter  of  Matthew  we 
have  an  account  of  the  rulers  of  the  church  in 
the  days  when  Christ  was  on  the  earth.  Jesus 
warns  the  people  against  them  and  their  teach- 
ings. He  charges  these  rulers  with  "  binding 
heavy  burdens  and  grievous  to  be  borne  on 
men's  shoulders;"  "doing  all  their  work  to  be 
seen  of  men,"  "  making  broad  their  phylacteries 
and  enlarging  the  borders  of  their  garments  ;  " 
"loving  the  uppermost  rooms  of  feasts  and  the 
chief  seats  in  the  Synagogue,  and  greetings  in 
the  market,  and  to  be  called  of  men,  Rabbi, 
Rabbi."  He  tells  the  people,"call  no  man  father 
upon  the  earth:  for  one  is  your  Father  which  is 
is  heaven.  "He  then  denounces  the  most  fearful 
woes  against  those  rulers  and  teachers.  "Woe 
unto  you.  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites !  for 
ye  shut  up  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  against  men: 
for  ye  neither  go  in  yourselves,  neither  suffer 
ye  them  that  are  entering  to  go  in.  Woe  unto 
you.  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  hypocrites !  for  ye 
devour  widows  houses,  and  for  a  pretence  make 
long  prayer;  therefore  ye  shall  receive  the 
greater  damnation.  Woe  unto  you.  Scribes  and 
Pharisees,  hypocrites!  for  ye  compass  sea  and 
land  to  make  one  proselyte;  and  when  he  is 
made,  ye  make  him  two-fold  more  the  child  of 
hell  than  yourselves."  "Ye  serpents,  ye 
generation  of  vipers,  how  can  ye  escape  the 
damnation  of  hell"  (Matt.  23)?  ^^^^ 

The  descriptions  of  the  church  in  the  days  q|^^^I 
Jeremiah,   John  the   Baptist   and    Chnst^Mp^^^^ 


82  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

applicable  to  the  largest  portion  of  the  church 
at  the  present  time.  What  is  needed  is  another 
John  the  Baptist  to  call  the  churches  to  repent- 
ance, and  "  to  make  ready  a  people  prepared 
for  the  Lord"  (Luke  i:  i6,  17). 

The  Bible  teaches  us  that  being  bom  in  a 
church,  or  being  baptized,  or  being  zealous  and 
a  strict  observer  of  all  the  rules  of  the  church, 
or  even  being  as  Cornelius  was,  "  A  devout 
man,  and  one  that  feared  God  with  all  his  house, 
which  gave  much  alms  to  the  people,  and 
prayed  always"  (Acts  10:  27)  are  none,  or  all 
of  them,  sufficient  to  save  men.  We  are  told  a 
certain  man  called  Simon,  believed  and  was 
baptized.  Yet  he  was  afterwards  told  by  Peter, 
"  I  perceive  that  thou  art  in  the  gall  of  bitter- 
ness, and  in  the,  bond  of  iniquity"  (Acts  8:  9, 
13,  23).  Being  zealous  in  church  services  or 
ordinances,  and  reading  the  Scriptures  cannot 
save  men.  The  Ethiopian  eunuch  had  gone  to 
Jerusalem  to  worship;  and  while  returning,  was 
reading  Isaiah.  It  was  necessary  to  send  an 
angel  to  Philip,  directing  him  to  go  and  explain 
the  Scripture  to  him.  Philip  did  so,  and  began 
at  the  same  Scripture  and  preached  unto  him 
Jesus.  The  eunuch  believed,  was  baptized, 
and  went  on  his  way  rejoicing  (Acts  8:  26).  In 
his  case,  his  going  to  Jerusalem  and  worship- 
ping there,  was  not  enough;  his  studying  the 
Scriptures  was  not  enough;  his  belief  in  his 
church  was  riot  enough;  a  special  miracle  must 
be   done   to  make  him   know   Christ;  that  he 


GOD    COMMANDETH    ALL    MEN    TO    REPENT.        83 

might  be  saved.  The  case  of  Cornelius,  a 
centurion  of  the  band  called  the  Italian  band, 
shows,  that  being  devout,  fearing  God,  giving 
alms  and  praying  to  God  always,  is  not  enough 
to  save  a  man,  without  the  knowledge  of  Christ, 
and  believing  Him.  It  required  two  miracles 
to  save  him.  An  angel  of  God  came  to  him 
and  told  him  to  send  for  Peter  and  he  would 
tell  him  what  to  do.  Special  visions  appeared 
to  Peter,  and  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  directed 
him  to  go  with  the  messengers  sent  by  Corn- 
elius. He  went,  and  preached  Christ  unto  him ; 
and  the  Holy  Ghost  fell  on  all  them  which 
heard  the  word;  and  they  were  baptized.  Peter 
in  relating  the  occurence,  adds,  "The  angel 
told  Cornelius  that  Peter  shall  tell  thee  words 
whereby  thou  and  all  thy  house  shall  be  saved" 
(Acts  11:  14).  This  teaches  us  that,  being 
devout,  and  one  that  feared  God  with  all  his 
house,  and  giving  much  alms,  and  praying  to 
God  always,  is  not  sufficient  for  salvation.  It 
was  necessary  to  hear  the  Gospel,  to  be  saved. 
His  prayers  were  heard,  and  God  sent  Peter  to 
preach  Christ  to  him;  and  the  Holy  Ghost  was 
given,  and  he  was  saved.  Living  a  moral  life 
cannot  save  a  man.  One  came  running  and 
kneeled  to  Christ  asking,  what  shall  I  do  to 
inherit  eternal  life?  Jesus  referred  him  to  the 
commandments;  quoting  the  last  six  speaking 
of  our  duty  towards  men.  He  answered,  "  All 
these  have  I  observed  from  my  youth. "  Then 
**Jesus  beholding  him,  loved  him,  and  said  unto 


84  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

him,  One  thing  thou  lackest."  He  told  him 
to  do  certain  things,  closing  with,  "And  come, 
take  up  thy  cross,  and  follow  me.  And  he  was 
sad  at  that  saying,  and  went  away  grieved;  for 
he  had  great  possessions"  (Mark  lo:  17).  Being 
circumcised,  or  baptized,  and  being  zealous  in 
observing  all  the  forms,  ceremonies,  &c.,  of  the 
church  does  not  make  a  person  a  child  of  God; 
and  cannot  save  anyone.  Paul  says,  "  If  any 
other  man  thinketh  that  he  hath  whereof  he 
might  trust  in  the  flesh,  I  more:  circumcised  the 
eighth  day,  of  the  stock  of  Israel,  of  the  tribe 
of  Benjamin,  a  Hebrew  of  the  Hebrews;  as 
touching  the  law,  a  Pharisee;  concerning  zeal, 
persecuting  the  church;  touching  the  righteous- 
ness which  is  in  the  law,  blameless.  But  what 
things  were  gain  to  me,  those  I  counted  loss  for 
Christ.  Yea  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things 
but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord:  for  whom  I  have  suffered 
the  loss  of  all  things,  and  do  count  them  but 
dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ,  and  be  found  in 
Him,  not  having  my  own  righteousness,  which 
is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is  through  the 
faith  of  Christ,  the  righteousness  which  is  of 
God  by  faith"  (Phil.  3:  4).  Vast  multitudes  of 
members  of  the  church  think  that  they  are 
children  of  God,  and  are  resting  their  hope  of 
salvation  on  those  things,  which  Paul,  when 
converted,  counted  "  as  dung. "  A  special  ap- 
pearance of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  Paul  caused 
his  conversion,  and  was  the  means  of  his  being 
saved. 


GOD    COMMANDETH    ALL    MEN    TO    RF.PENT.        85 

All  the  above  cases  were  men  conspicuous  in 
the  church,  and  of  high  standing  in  it;  yet 
miracles  were  necessary  to  bring  them  to  Christ. 
The  command  to  all  men,  in  the  church  and 
out  of  it,  is,  repent  and  believe  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  The  greatest  need  at  the  present 
time  is  repentance  in  the  churches.  Then  the 
command  to  repent  will  be  carried  to  the  lapsed 
masses.  And  then  we  may  look  for  the  miracle 
of  men  being  bom  again  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


86  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


CHILDREN  OF  GOD  BORN  AGAIN. 

Man  is  born  with  a  corrupt  nature,  alienated 
from  God:  and  although  God  has  provided 
redemption  for  him,  and  "beseeches"  him  to 
accept  that  redemption  and  "  be  reconciled  to 
God"  (II  Cor.  5.  20),  he  will  not  do  so,  unless 
the  Holy  Spirit  changes  his  heart.  The  reason 
is,  "The  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  God" 
(Rom.  8:  7).  Men  are  "haters  of  God"  (Rom. 
1 :  30).  Christ  told  His  disciples,  "  If  the  world 
hate  you,  ye  know  that  it  hated  Me  before  it 
hated  you"  "He  that  hateth  Me,  hateth  my 
Father  also."  "  Now  have  they  both  seen  and 
hated  both  Me  and  my  Father"  (John  15:  18, 
23,  24).  Therefore  the  Bible  tells  us,  that  men 
to  be  saved,  need  not  only  the  Gospel  call, 
"Repent  and  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;" 
but  that  the  call  will  be  in  vain,  and  men  will 
not  believe,  unless  the  word  is  made  effectual 
by  the  Holy  Spirit.  "  For  by  grace  are  ye 
saved  through  faith;  and  that  not  of  yourselves: 
it  is  the  gift  of  God"     (Eph.  2:  8). 

According  to  the  Scriptures,  a  man  to  be 
saved,  must  be  "Born  again;"  ** Created  anew;" 
"Raised  from  the  dead."  Christ  told  Nico- 
demus,  a  ruler  of  the  Jews,  "  Verily,  verily,  I 
say  unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again,  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."     *' Except  a 


BORN   AGAIN.  87 

man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  can- 
not enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God"  (John  3:  3,  5). 
John  speaking  of  Jesus  says,  "  He  was  in  the 
world,  and  the  world  was  made  by  Him,  and 
the  world  knew  Him  not.  He  came  unto  His 
own,  and  His  own  received  Him  not.  But  as 
many  as  received  Him,  to  them  gave  He  the 
right  to  become  Children  of  God,  even  to  them 
that  believe  on  His  name  which  were  born,  not 
of  blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the 
will  of  man,  but  of  God"  (John  i:  11).  That 
is,  not  by  natural  descent  or  birth;  nor  by  their 
own  will;  not  by  the  will  of  any  priest  by 
baptism,  or  confirmation;  or  the  will  of  any 
man;  but  of  God.  "To  as  many  as  received 
Him. "  To  receive  Christ,  we  must  know  Him 
as  He  isrevealed  in  the  Scriptures;  wemustknow 
Him  as  did  Peter  when  he  said,  "  Thou  art  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God."  When  we 
know  this,  Jesus  says  to  us,  as  He  did  to  Peter, 
"  Blessed  art  thou,  Simon  Barjona;  for  flesh  and 
blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee,  but  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven"  (Matt.  16:  16).  No 
one  receives  Him,  who  does  not  believe  in  His 
name,  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Isaiah,  700 
years  before  Christ,  announced  His  Name. 
"  Behold  a  virgin  shall  conceive  and  bear 
a  son,  and  shall  call  his  name  Immanuel  " 
(Isa.  7:  14),  "which  is  being  interpreted, 
God  with  us"  (Matt,  i:  23).  "And  she  shall 
bring  forth  a  son ;  and  thou  shalt  call  His 
name  Jesus;   for  it  is  He  that  shall  save  His 


65  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

people  from  their  sins"  (Matt,  i:  21).  "For 
unto  us  a  child  is  bom,  unto  us  a  son  is  given; 
and  the  government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder; 
and  his  name  shall  be  called  Wonderful,  Coun- 
sellor, The  Mighty  God,  The  Everlasting 
Father,  (Father  of  Eternity),  The  Prince  of 
Peace"  (Isa.  9:  6).  If  we  have  recieved  Him 
and  believe  on  His  Name,  He  has  given  us  the 
right  to  become  children  of  God  (John  i:  12). 
They  who  regard  Him  only  as  a  good  man, 
or  as  an  example,  do  not  receive  Him;  they 
deny  Him.  He  must  be  known  and  received 
as  He  is  revealed  and  offered  in  the  Word  of 
God,  or  He  is  not  received  at  all.  Peter 
explains  how  we  become  children  of  God. 
"  Being  born  again  not  of  corruptible  seed,  but 
of  incorruptible,  by  the  Word  of  God"  (I  Peter 
i:  23).  Jesus  says,  "That  which  is  born  of  the 
flesh  is  flesh;  and  that  which  is  bom  of  the 
Spirit  is  Spirit"  (John  3:  6).  John  says, 
"  Whosoever  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ 
is  born  of  God"  (I  John  5:1;  Gal  3:  26).  Paul 
says,  "As  many  as  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
they  are  the  Sons  of  God."  "  The  Spirit  itself 
beareth  witness  with  our  Spirit,  that  we  are  the 
children  of  God"  (Rom.  8:  14,16).  "Blessed 
be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
which  according  to  his  abundant  mercy  hath 
begotten  us  again  into  a  lively  hope  by  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead,  to 
an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and  nndefiled,  and 
that  fadeth  not  away,  reserved  in  heaven  for 


BORN  AGAIN.  89 

you,  who  are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through 
faith  unto  salvation  ready  to  be  revealed  in  the 
last  time"  (I  Peter  i:  3).  *' Beloved,  now  are 
we  the  Sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear 
what  we  shall  be;  but  we  know  that,  when  He 
shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  Him;  for  we  shall 
see  Him  as  He  is.  And  every  man  that  hath 
this  hope  in  him,  purifieth  himself,  even  as  He 
is  pure"     (I  John  3:  2). 


go  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


CHILDREN  OF  GOD   CREATED    ANEW. 

The  Scriptures  also  tell  us,  that  the  children 
of  God  are  created  anew.  David  prayed, 
"  Create  in  one  a  clean  heart,  O  God  "  (Ps  51: 
10).  God  says,  "  I  will  put  a  new  Spirit  within 
you;  and  I  will  take  the  stony  heart  out  of  their 
flesh,  and  will  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh" 
(Ezek.  11:  19).  "A  new  heart  also  will  I  give 
you,  and  a  new  Spirit  will  I  put  within  you; 
and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of 
your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh" 
(Ezek.  36:  26).  It  is  written,  "If  any  man  be 
in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature;  old  things  are 
passed  away;  behold  all  things  are  become  new, 
and  all  things  are  of  God,  who  hath  reconciled 
us  to  Himself  by  Jesus  Christ"  (II  Cor.  5:  17). 
"For  in  Christ  Jesus  neither  circumcision, 
availeth  anything,  nor  uncircumcision,  but  a 
new  creature"  (Gal.  6:  15),  "  For  by  grace  are 
ye  saved  through  faith:  and  that  not  of  your- 
selves: it  is  the  gift  of  God:  not  of  works,  lest 
any  man  shfould  boast.  For  we  are  His  work- 
manship, created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good 
works,  which  God  hath  before  ordained  that 
we  should  walk  in  them"  (Eph.  2:  6-10). 
Reader,  have  you  been  born  anew?  Created 
anew?  Have  you  been  "  renewed  in  the  Spirit 
of  your  mind?"     Have  you   "  put  on   the  new 


CREATED    ANEW.  9I 

man  which  after  God  is  created  in  righteous- 
ness and  true  holiness  "  (Eph.  4:  24)  ?  "  The 
new  man,  which  is  renewed  in  knowledge  after 
the  image  of  Him  that  created  him"    (Col.  3: 

10). 


92  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


CHILDREN  OF  GOD  MADE  ALIVE 
FROM  THE  DEAD. 

The  Scriptures  tell  us  that  the  children  of  God 
are  born  again,  are  created  anew,  and  also, 
made  alive  from  the  dead.  No  stronger  lan- 
guage can  be  used  to  show  that  the  work  of 
redemption  is  entirely,  from  beginning  to  end, 
of  God.  No  child  has  ever  caused  its  own 
birth;  no  creature  has  created  itself;  no  dead 
thing  has  ever  brought  itself  to  life.  In  Ezekiel 
we  have  a  vivid  description  of  the  state  of  the 
natural  man,  and  of  the  church  at'  times.  He 
saw  a  valley  full  of  bones  and  they  were  very 
dry.  And  He  was  commanded  to  say  unto 
them,  "  O  ye  dry  bones,  hear  the  word  of  the 
Lord.  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  unto  these 
bones,  "behold  I  will  cause  breath  to  enter  into 
you,  and  ye  shall  live,"  *  *  *  "And  ye  shall 
know  that  I  am  the  Lord."  He  prophesied 
accordingly,  and,  "behold  a  shaking,  and  the 
bones  came  together,  bone  to  his  bone."  ♦  *  * 
"  The  sinews  and  the  flesh  came  up  upon  them, 
and  the  skin  covered  them  above;  but  there 
was  no  breath  in  them."  He  was  commanded 
to  prophecy  again,  and  he  did  so,  "and  the 
breath  came  into  them  and  they  lived."  (Ezek. 
37:1-14).  "Wherefore  he  saith,  awake  thou 
that  sleepest,   and  arise  from   the  dead,   and 


MADE    ALIVE    FROM    THE    DEAD.  93 

Christ  shall  give  thee  light."  (Eph.  5:  14).  Jesus 
says,  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that 
heareth  my  Word,  and  believeth  on  Him  that 
sent  me,  hath  everlasting  life,  and  shall  not 
come  into  condemnation;  but  is  passed  from 
death  unto  life"  (John  5:  24).  "He  that 
believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life;  but  the 
wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him"  (John  3:  36). 
Believers  in  Christ  Jesus  are  told,  "  You  hath 
he  quickened,  who  were  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins;  wherein  in  time  past  ye  walked  according 
to  the  Qourse  of  this  world,  according  to  the 
prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  the  spirit  that 
now  worketh  in  the  children  of  disobedience: 
among  whom  also  we  all  had  our  conversation 
in  times  past  in  the  lusts  of  our  flesh,  fulfilling 
the  desires  of  the  flesh  and  of  the  mind;  and 
were  by  nature  children  of  wrath,  even  as 
others.  But  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  for  his 
great  love  wherewith  He  loved  us,  even  when 
we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened  us  together 
with  Christ  (by  grace  ye  are  saved) ;  and  hath 
raised  us  up  together,  and  made  us  sit  together 
in  Heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus"  (Eph.  2:  i). 


94  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


THE   CHILDREN    OF  GOD   CHOSEN  BY 

HIM  BEFORE  THE  FOUNDATION 

OF    THE    WORLD. 

We  have  seen  that  the  children  of  God,  are 
bom  again;  created  anew;  raised  from  the 
dead;  and  that  this  is  not  by  their  own  will,  nor 
by  the  will  of  others,  but  of  God.  The  children 
of  God  are  chosen  in  Christ  before  the  found- 
ation of  the  world;  not  because  they  were  holy; 
or  because  of  good  works,  "  lest  they  should 
boast,"  but  they  "  were  created  in  Christ  Jesus 
unto  good  works,"  and  that  they  "  should  be 
holy."  Paul  writes,  to  the  saints  which  are  at 
Ephesus  and  to  the  faithful  in  Christ  Jesus, 
"  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  blessed  us  with  all 
spiritual  blessings  in  Heavenly  places  in  Christ: 
according  as  he  hath  chosen  us  in  him,  before 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  that  we  should  be 
holy  and  without  blame  before  Him  in  love; 
having  predestinated  us  unto  the  adoption  of 
children  by  Jesus  Christ  to  himself,  according 
to  the  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  to  the  praise  of 
the  glory  of  His  grace,  wherein  he  hath  made 
us  accepted  in  the  beloved:  in  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness 
of  sins,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace" 
(Eph.  i:  1-12).     Paul   then   tells   them,   of   the 


CHOSEN  BY  HIM.  95 

"  exceeding  greatness  of  his  power  to  us-ward 
who  believe,  according  to  the  working  of  his 
mighty  power  which  he  wrought  in  Christ 
when  he  raised  him  from  the  dead  and  set  him 
at  his  own  right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places, 
far  above  all  principality,  and  power,  and 
might  and  dominion,  and  every  name  that  is 
named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that 
which  is  to  come:  and  hath  put  all  things  under 
his  feet,  and  gave  him  to  be  the  head  over  all 
things  to  the  church,  which  is  his  body,  the 
fulness  of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all.  And  you 
hath  he  quickened  who  were  dead  in  trespasses 
and  sins.  *  *  *  But  God  who  is  rich  in 
mercy,  for  his  great  love  wherewith  he  loved 
us,  even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath 
quickened  us  together  with  Christ.  *  *  * 
For  by  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith;  and 
that  not  of  yourselves;  it  is  the  gift  of  God:  not 
of  works,  lest  any  man  should  boast.  For  we 
are  his  workmanship,  created  in  Christ  Jesus 
unto  good  works,  which  God  hath  before 
ordained  that  we  should  walk  in  them"  (Eph.  i: 
19;  2:  I,  4,  8).  To  the  "beloved  of  God,  called 
saints,"  in  Rome,  the  same  truth  is  taught. 
"  We  know  that  all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them  who  are 
the  called  according  to  his  purpose.  For 
whom  he  did  foreknow,  he  also  did  predestin- 
ate to  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  his  son, 
that  he  might  be  the  firstborn  among  many 
brethren.  Moreover,  whom  he  did  predestinate, 


96  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

them  he  also  called:  and  whom  he  called,  them 
he  also  justified:  and  whom  he  justified,  them 
he  also  glorified"  (Rom.  8:  28).  We  are  told 
that,  "  Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing 
by  the  word  of  God"  (Rom.  10:  17).  "To  the 
Church  of  God,  which  is  at  Corinth,"  Paul 
writes,  "  Christ  sent  me  not  to  baptize,  but  to 
preach  the  gespel;  not  with  wisdom  of  words, 
lest  the  cross  of  Christ  should  be  made  of  none 
effect.  For  the  preaching  of  the  cross  is  to 
them  that  perish,  foolishness;  but  unto  us  which 
are  saved,  it  is  the  power  of  God.  For  it  is 
written,  I  will  destroy  the  wisdom  of  the  wise, 
and  will  bring  to  nothing  the  understanding  of 
the  prudent.  Where  is  the  wise?  Where  is 
the  Scribe?  Where  is  the  disputer  of 
this  world?  Hath  not  God  made  foolish 
the  wisdom  of  this  world  ?  For  after 
that  in  the  wisdom  of  God  the  world  by  wisdom 
knew  not  God,  it  pleased  God  by  the  foolishness 
of  preaching  to  save  them  that  believe"  (I  Cor. 
i:  17).  To  the  church  in  Rome  Paul  writes, 
"  So,  as  much  as  in  me  is,  I  am  ready  to  preach 
the  Gospel  to  you  that  are  at  Rome  also.  For 
I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of  Christ:  for 
it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every 
one  that  believeth;  to  the  Jew  first,  and  also 
to  the  Greek.  For  therein  is  the  righteousness 
of  God  revealed  from  faith  to  faith:  as  it  is 
written.  The  just  shall  live  by  faith"  (Rom.  i: 
15).  God  at  creation  made  all  things  by  His 
word.     He  spake  and  it  was  done.     He  said, 


CHOSEN  BY  HIM.  97 

"  Let  there  be  light,  and  there  was  light"  (Gen. 
1:3).  Ever  since  the  word  of  God  gives  life 
and  light  to  men,  "  the  entrance  of  Thy  word 
giveth  light"  (Ps.  119:  130).  "God,  who  com- 
manded the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath 
shined  in  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of 
Jesus  Christ"  (2  Cor.  4:  6).  "  For  ye  were 
sometimes  darkness,  but  now  are  ye  light  in  the 
Lord"  (Eph.  5:  8),  The  word  of  God  from  the 
beginning  was  Christ.  '*  The  word  was  made 
flesh  and  dwelt  among  us"  (John  i:  1-14).  He 
is  the  Word  of  God  to  give  life  and  light  to 
men.  And  therefore  Paul  preached  Christ; 
and  Christians  are  to  be  witnesses  for  Christ; 
Timothy  was  charged,  "Preach  the  Word;  be 
instant  in  season,  out  of  season;  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort  with  all  long  suffering  and  doctrine" 
(2  Tim.  4:2).  Child  of  God  !  born  again,  made 
alive,  created  anew,  by  the  Word  of  God;  that 
word  is  committed  to  you;  that  you  may  grow 
thereby,  and  by  means  of  it  save  others.  Use 
that  word;  for  God  says,  comparing  it  to  the 
rain  that  watereth  the  earth,  and  maketh  it 
bring  forth  and  bud,  that  it  may  give  seed  to 
the  sower,  and  bread  to  the  eater,  "  So 
shall  my  word  be  that  goeth  forth  out  of  my 
mouth:  it  shall  not  return  unto  me  void,  but  it 
shall  accomplish  that  which  I  please,  and  it 
shall  prosper  in  thing  whereto  I  sent  it"  (Isa, 
55:  "). 


qS  chTldren  of  god. 


FAITH   AND   GOOD   WORKS. 

God's  way  of  salvation  differs  from  that  of 
every  other  religion  in  the  world,  including 
those  of  the  lapsed  churches.  God's  plan  is 
Salvation  by  faith.  All  other  religions  look  to 
their  good  works  for  salvation.  The  children 
of  God  are  told  to  do  good  works  not  in  order 
to  be  saved,  but  because  they  are  saved.  Cain's 
offering  of  his  own  productions  was  rejected  by 
God.  Abel's  offering  which  we  are  told  was  by 
faith,  was  accepted.  Sacrifices  for  sin  were  re- 
quired by  God  as  a  part  of  every  act  of  worship. 
For  sins  of  commission,  of  omission,  of  ignor- 
ance, of  presumption;  sin-offerings  daily,  on  the 
Sabbath  Day,  and  even  when  presenting  thank 
offerings  and  national  thanksgivings.  All 
these  sacrifices  represented  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  "  the  lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world"  (Rev.  13:  8).  The  Lamb  of  God, 
which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world"  (John 
1 :  29).  "Christ  our  passover  is  sacrificed  for  us" 
(i  Cor.  5:  8).  The  Lamb  now  on  the  throne,  as 
described  in  Revelations,  as  "  a  Lamb  standing, 
as  though  it  had  been  slain"  (Rev.  5:  6).  In 
the  eleventh  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Hebrews  we  have  a  list  of  the  patriarchs  and 
worthies  in  the  Old  Testament,  commended  for 
their  faith.     In  all  these  cases  their  good  works 


FAITH  AND  GOOD  WORKS.  99 

are  spoken  of  as  the  result  of  their  faith.  Else- 
where we  are  told,  "  If  Abraham  were  justified 
by  works,  he  hath  whereof  to  glory;  but  not 
before  God.  For  what  saith  the  Scripture? 
Abraham  believed  God,  and  it  was  counted 
unto  him  for  righteousness"  (Rom.  4:  2). 
"  Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  God" 
(Heb.  11:  6).  The  same  motive  for  doing  good 
works  is  in  the  Old  Testament  as  in  the  New. 
In  the  Old,  God  continually  reminds  his  people, 
that  because  he  had  delivered  them  from 
Egypt,  they  should  love,  and  obey  Him.  The 
introduction  of  the  Ten  Commandments  begins 
with,  "  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  have 
brought  thee  out  of  the  Land  of  Egypt,  out  of 
the  house  of  bondage.  Thou  shalt  have  no 
other  Gods  before  Me.  Thou  shalt  not  &c.,  &c." 
(Exod.  20:  2).  The  children  of  Israel  are  con- 
stantly reminded  of  this  deliverance  as  an 
incentive  to  obedience  and  good  works  (Exod. 
^3-  3)  9>  14)  16;  Deut.  6:  21;  Levit.  19:  36;  Num. 
15:40,  41;  Ps.  81:  10;  Deut.  5:  15;  Josh.  24:  5  &c). 
They  are  also  told  that  the  Lord  had  redeemed 
them  out  of  the  house  of  bondage  and  led  them 
forth  and  guided  them  in  His  strength  unto 
His  holy  habitation  (Exod.  15:  13;  Deut.  7:  8; 
15:  15;  9:  26;  24-  18;  &c.,  &c).  The  same 
reasons,  in  almost  the  same  words,  are  used  in 
the  New  Testament  calling  upon  the  children 
of  God  to  love  Him,  and  do  good  works;  not  in 
order  to  save  themselves,  but  because  God 
through  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  saved  them. 


lOO  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

"  That  no  man  is  justified  by  the  law  in  the 
sight  of  God,  it  is  evident;  for  the  just  shall  live 
by  faith."  "  Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the 
curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for  us." 
"That  we  might  receive  the  promise  of  the 
Spirit  through  faith"  (Gal.  3:  ii,  13,  14).  ''Be 
ye  holy;  for  I  am  holy."  "Forasmuch  as  ye 
know  that  ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corrupt- 
ible things,  as  silver  and  gold,  from  your  vain 
conversation  received  by  tradition  from  your 
fathers;  but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ, 
as  of  a  lamb  without  blemish  and  without  spot; 
who  verily  was  foreordained  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world"  (i  Pet.  i:  16,  18).  "Who 
hath  delivered  from  the  power  of  darkness,  and 
hath  translated  us  into  the  kingdom  of  His 
dear  Son.  In  whom  we  have  redemption 
through  His  blood  even  the  forgiveness  of  sins" 
(Col.  i:  13).  "Jesus  which  delivered  us  from 
the  wrath  to  come"  (i  Thess.  i:  10).  "Ye  are 
bought  with  a  price:  therefore  glorify  God  in 
your  body,  and  in  your  Spirit,  which  are  God's" 
(i  Cor.  6:  20).  "Thanks  be  to  God,  which 
giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  Therefore,  my  beloved  brethern,  be  ye 
steadfast,  unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  ye  know  that 
your  labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord"  (i  Cor. 
15-  58).  "Therefore,  as  ye  abound  in  every- 
thing, in  faith,  and  utterance,  and  knowledge, 
and  in  all  diligence,  and  in  your  love  to  us,  see 
that  ye  abound  in  this  grace  also."     "For  ye 


FAITH  AND  GOOD  WORKS.  lOI 

know  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that 
though  He  was  rich,  yet  for  your  sakes  He 
became  poor,  that  ye  through  His  poverty 
might  be  rich"  (2  Cor.  8:  7,  9).  We  are  told, 
"  Work  out  your  own  salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling;  for  it  is  God  which  worketh  in  you 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure;" 
work,  not  to  be  saved,  but  because  ye  have 
salvation,  work  it  out.  "  Let  no  man  deceive 
you  with  vain  words:  for  because  of  these 
things  Cometh  the  wrath  of  God  upon  the 
children  of  disobedience.  Be  not  therefore 
partakers  with  them.  For  ye  were  sometime 
darkness,  but  now  are  ye  light  in  the  Lord: 
walk  as  children  of  light"  (Eph.  5:  6).  "  Reckon 
ye  yourselves  to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but 
alive  unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Let  not  sin,  therefore,  reign  in  your  mortal 
body,  that  ye  should  obey  it  in  the  lusts  there- 
of" (Rom.  6:  12).  "I  beseech  you  therefore, 
brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  that  ye  pre- 
sent your  bodies,  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  accept- 
able unto  God,  which  is  your  reasonable  service" 
(Rom.  12:  i).  "Having  therefore  these 
promises,  dearly  beloved,  let  us  cleanse  our- 
selves from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit, 
perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of  God"  (2  Cor. 
7:  i).  "Now,  therefore,  ye  are  no  more 
strangers  and  foreigners,  but  fellow  citizens  of 
the  saints,  and  of  the  household  of  God;  and^ 
built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  aposi 
prophets,  Jesus  Christ  Himself  bein|^TO3?6tf  -*t^^ 


162  CHILDREN  OF  GOD. 

cornerstone,  in  whom  ye  are  builded  together 
for  an  habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit. 
For  this  cause,  I,  Paul,  the  prisoner  of  Jesus 
Christ,  for  you  Gentiles,  beseech  you  that  ye 
walk  worthy  of  the  vocation  wherewith  ye  are 
called,  with  all  lowliness  and  meekness,  with 
long  suffering,  forbearing  one  another  in  love; 
endeavoring  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in 
the  bond  of  peace."  "  Be  ye  therefore  followers 
of  God,  as  dear  children."  "Do  all  things 
without  murmurings  and  disputings,  that  ye 
may  be  blameless  and  harmless,  the  songs  of 
God,  without  rebuke,  in  midst  of  a  crooked  and 
perverse  nation,  among  whom  ye  shine  as 
lights  in  the  world."  "For  our  conversation  is 
in  heaven;  from  whence  also  we  look  for  the 
Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ:  who  shall 
change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be  fashioned 
like  unto  his  glorious  body,  according  to  the 
working  whereby  he  is  able  even  to  subdue  all 
things  unto  himself.  Therefore,  my  brethren, 
dearly  beloved  and  longed  for,  my  joy  and 
crown,  so  stand  fast  in  the  Lord,  dearly  beloved." 
*'  If  ye  then  be  risen  with  Christ,  seek  those 
things  which  are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  at 
the  right  hand  of  God.  Set  your  affections  on 
things  above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth,  for  ye 
are  dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God."  "  Put  on  therefore,  as  the  elect  of  God, 
holy  and  beloved,  bowels  of  mercies,  kindness, 
humbleness  of  mind,  meekness,  long-suffering; 
forbearing    one    another,    and    forgiving    one 


FAITH  AND  GOOD  WORKS.  103 

another,  if  any  man  have  a  quarrel  against  any: 
even  as  Christ  forgave  you,  so  also  do  ye.  And 
above  all  things  put  on  charity,  which  is  the 
bond  of  perfectness."  "Whatsoever  ye  do  in 
word  or  deed,  do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  giving  thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by 
him."  **  Ye  are  all  the  children  of  light,  and 
the  children  of  the  day;  we  are  not  of  the  night 
nor  of  darkness.  Therefore  let  us  not  sleep,  as 
do  others,  but  let  us  watch  and  be  sober."  "Ye 
are  a  chosen  generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  an 
holy  nation,  a  peculiar  people,  that  ye  should 
show  forth  the  praises  (virtues)  of  him  who 
hath  called  you  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvel- 
ous light."  "  Nevertheless  we,*  according  to 
his  promise,  look  for  new  heavens  and  a  new 
earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness.  Where- 
fore,beloved,  seeing  that  ye  look  for  such  things, 
be  diligent,  that  ye  may  be  found  of  him  in 
peace,  without  spot,  and  blameless."  "Beloved 
now  are  we  the  sons  of  God;  and  it  doth  not 
yet  appear  what  we  shall  be;  but  we  know  that 
when  He  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him,  for 
we  shall  see  him  as  He  is.  And  every  man 
that  hath  this  hope  in  him  purifieth  himself, 
even  as  He  is  pure." 

Faith  in  Jesus  Christ  always  works.  *'  For 
in  Jesus  Christ  neither  circumcision  availeth 
anything,  nor  uncircumcision  ;  but- faith  which 
worketh  by  love"  (Gal.  5 ;  6).  "  Faith  without 
works  is  dead"  "  Faith,  if  it  hath  not  works  is 
dead,  being  alone,"  ("in  itself  ")  (James  2: 17,  20). 


104  CHILDREN  OF  GOD 

Faith  in  Christ,  "works  by  love,"  '-purifies  the 
heart" (Acts  15:9;!  John  3:  3);  and  "overcometh 
the  world."  "For  whatsoever  is  born  of  God 
overcometh  the  world;  and  this  is  the  victory 
that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith. 
Who  is  he  that  overcometh  the  world,  but  he 
that  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God" 
(i  John  5:  4)?  "  Without  faith  it  is  impossible 
to  please  God"  (Heb.  11:  6).  "For  whatsoever 
is  not  of  faith  is  sin"  (Rom.  14:  23). 

In  working  out  the  salvation  which  we  have 
received  from  God,  we  must  with  filial  fear  and 
reverence,  look  to  God  continually,  to  work  in 
us  to  will,  and  work  in  us  the  power  to  do, 
of  His  good  pleasure.  Salvation  from  beginning 
to  end  is  of  God. 

"Enoch  walked  with  God"  (Gen.  5:  24). 
"  By  faith  Enoch  was  translated  that  he  should 
not  see  death;  and  he  was  not  found,  because 
God  translated  him;  for  before  his  translation 
he  had  this  testimony  that  he  pleased  God" 
(Heb.  ir:  5).  Walking  by  faith  with  God,  every 
believer  may  know  that  he  pleases  God.  "  The 
Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  his  people"  (Ps.  149:  4). 
"The  Lord  taketh  pleasure  in  them  that  fear 
Him"  (Ps.  147:  11).  In  his  epistle  to  the 
Colossians  Paul  writes,  "We  do  not  cease  to 
pray  for  you,  and  to  desire  that  ye  might  be 
filled  with  the  knowledge  of  his  will  in  all 
wisdom  and  spiritual  understanding;  that  ye 
might  walk  worthy  of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleas- 
ing, being  fruitful  in   every  good  work,  and 


FAITH   AND  GOOD  WORKS  105 

increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  God;  strength- 
er-ed  with  all  might,  according  to  his  glorious 
power"  (Col.  i :  9). 


I06  CHILDREN  OF  GOD. 


THE    CHILDREN    OF    GOD    HAVE 
ETERNAL   LIFE   NOW. 

The  children  of  Israel,  when  delivered  from 
the  bondage  of  Egypt,  might  have  entered 
the  promised  land  at  once;  but  because  of  their 
unbelief,  were  compelled  to  wander  in  the  wild- 
erness forty  years,  and  the  most  of  them  never 
entered  it.  "So  we  see  that  they  could  not 
enter  in  because  of  unbelief"  (Heb.  3:  19).  "Let 
us  therefore  fear,  lest,  a  promise  being  left  us  of 
entering  into  his  rest,  any  of  you  should  seem 
to  come  short  of  it."  "For  we  which  have 
believed  do  enter  into  rest"  (Heb.  4:  i,  3). 
Many  children  of  God  wander  through  the 
wilderness,  troubled  with  doubts  and  fears, 
who,  if  they  believed  the  promises  connected 
with  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  would  be 
enjoying  a  life  of  rest,  joy,  and  peace.  They 
do  not  realize  that  their  salvation  is  sure  the 
moment  they  believe;  and  is  forever.  That  all 
the  promises  connected  with  faith,  are  in  the 
present  tense,  and  are  to  be  enjoyed  now,  as 
well  as  hereafter.  He  that  believeth  hath;  he 
that  believeth  is;  and  it  is  because  they  have 
and  because  they  are,  that  the  Scriptures  urge 
believers  to  glorify  God,  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord, 
and  to  do  good  works.  Jesus  said,  ''Verily, 
verily,  I   say  unto  you.   He   that  heareth  my 


HAVE    ETERNAL    LIFE    NOW.  IO7 

word,  and  believeth  on  him  that  sent  mc,  hath 
everlasting  life,  and  shall  not  come  into  con- 
demnation; but  is  passed  from  death  unto  life" 
(John  5:  24).  **He  that  believeth  on  me  hath 
everlasting  life"  (John  6:  47).  "  Being  justified 
by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ"  (Rom.  5:  i).  "He  that 
believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life" 
(John  3:  ^6).  **  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  Sons 
of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be;  but  we  know  that,  when  he  shall 
appear,  we  shall  be  like  him;  for  we  shall  see 
him  as  he  is.  And  every  man  that  hath  this 
hope  in  him  purifieth  himself,  even  as  he  is 
pure''  (i  John  3:  2).  Jesus  said,  "These  things 
have  I  spoken  unto  you,  that  my  joy  might 
remain  in  you,  and  that  your  joy  might  be  full" 
(John  15:  11).  "Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my 
pea'^e  I  give  unto  you  "  (John  14:27).  "  These 
things  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me  ye 
might  have  peace.  In  the  world  ye  shall  have 
tribulation;  but  be  of  good  cheer;  I  have  over- 
come the  world"  (John  16:  33). 

They  who  believe  these  words  of  Christ  will 
be  partakers  of  his  joy,  and  will  enjoy  his 
peace;  and  will  be  of  good  cheer.  They  have 
every  reason  to  do  so,  knowing  that  they  have 
an  everlasting  life,  which  they  can  never  be 
deprived  of;  and  knowing  that  all  things  work 
together  for  their  good  (Rom.  8:  28),  and  that 
all  things  are  now  theirs.  "  For  all  things  are 
yours;  whether  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or 


Io8  CHILDREN  OF  GOD. 

the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or  things  present, 
or  things  to  come;  all  are  yours;  and  ye  are 
Christ's;  and  Christ  is  God's"  (i  Cor.  3:  21). 

We  are  told  that  the  Ethiopian  eunuch,  after 
having  the  fifty-third  chapter  of  Isaiah 
explained  to  him,  and  Jesus  preached  to  him, 
"  said  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of 
God,"  and  was  baptized;  "And  he  went  on  his 
way  rejoicing"  (Acts  8:  27-39).  ^^^  jailer  at 
Philippi  a  few  minutes  after  he  was  about  to 
kill  himself,  asked  Paul  and  Silas,  "  What  must 
I  do  to  be  saved;  and  they  said,  believe  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved,  thou 
and  thy  house.  And  they  spake  unto  him  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  to  all  that  were  in  his 
house.  And  he  took  them  the  same  hour  of  the 
night,  and  washed  their  stripes;  and  was 
baptized,  he  and  all  his,  straightway.  And  when 
he  had  brought  them  into  his  house,  he  set 
meat  before  them,  and  rejoiced,  believing  in 
God  with  all  his  house"  (Acts  16:  27).  When  a 
person  receives  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
believes  in  His  name,  he  realizes  that  he  is 
saved,  and  is  a  child  of  God,  and  he  will  at  once 
rejoice,  and  try  to  make  others  partakers  of  the 
joy,  and  peace,  and  the  good  cheer,  which 
Christ  gives  to  all  who  believe  in  him.  We  are 
told,  ♦*  Rejoice  evermore"  (i  Thess.  5:  16). 
"  Rejoice  in  the  Lord  always:  and  again  I  say. 
Rejoice"  (Phil.  4:  4).  "For  the  joy  of  the 
Lord  is  your  strength"  (Neh.  8:  10).  "  Behold, 
God  is  my  salvation;  I  will  trust,  and  not  be 


HAVE    ETERNAL   LIFE    NOW.  I09 

afraid;  for  the  lord  jehovah  is  my  strength 
and  my  song;  He  also  has  become  my  salvation. 
Therefore  with  joy  shall  we  draw  water  out  of 
the  wells  of  salvation''  (Isaiah  12:  2). 

The  believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  should 
know  that  he  is  saved  and  hath  an  eternal  life 
now.  Without  knowing  this  he  cannot  have 
that  joy  and  peace  which  come  with  faith  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  cannot  bear  proper 
testimony  for  Christ,  and  cannot  bring  others 
to  Him  to  be  saved.  "  Whosever  believeth  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ  is  bom  of  God."  *  *  *  "He 
that  believeth  not  God  hath  made  Him  a  liar; 
because  he  believeth  not  the  record,  that  God 
gave  of  His  Son.  And  this  is  the  record  that 
God  hath  given  to  us:  eternal  life,  and  this  life 
is  in  His  Son.  He  that  hath  the  Son  hath  life; 
and  he  that  hath  not  the  Son  of  God  hath  not 
life.  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you 
that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God; 
that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life, 
and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the  name  of  the 
Son  of  God"  (i  John  5:  i,  10). 


no  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 


WITNESSES    FOR    CHRIST. 

The  first  cry  of  the  new-born  infant  is 
generally  of  distress;  the  first  exclamation  of 
the  child  of  God  is  of  joy.  This  was  the  case 
with  the  Ethiopian  enniich  and  of  the  jailer  at 
Philippi,  Acts  8:  39;  i6:  34.  As  he  grows  in 
grace  and  knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
he  will  continually  rejoice;  even  in  trials  and 
tribulations.  "  Rejoicing  that  they  were  worthy 
to-  suffer  shame  for  his  name"  (Acts  5:  41). 
**  Rejoicing  in  hope,  patient  in  tribulation" 
(Rom.  12:  12).  '*As  sorrowful  yet  always 
rejoicing"  (II  Cor.  6:  10;  Heb.  3:  6).  He  also 
begins  to  bear  witness  for  Christ:  and  to  spread 
the  knowledge  of  Him  and  His  salvation;  trying 
thus  to  save  others.  The  Lord  Jesus  directs 
them  to  do  this.  "  Go  ye  therefore,  and  make 
disciples  of  all  the  nations,  baptizing  them  into 
the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost:  teaching  them  to  observe  all 
things  whatsoever  I  commanded  you:  and  lo,  I 
am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world"  (Matt.  28:  19).  **  Sanctify  them  in  the 
truth;  thy  word  is  truth.  As  thou  didst  send 
me  into  the  world,  even  so  sent  I  them  into  the 
world"  (John  17:  17). 

The  children  of  God  need  no  injunctions  to 
tihis.     They  are  moved  by  gratitude  and  love, 


WITNESSES    FOR    CHRIST.  Ill 

as  well  as  by  His  spirit.  Thus  we  find,  that 
those  cured  by  Jesus  could  not  be  restrained 
from  showing  their  joy,  and  testifying  what 
Jesus  had  done  for  them.  The  leper  cleansed, 
"went  out,  and  began  to  publish  it  much  and  to 
blase  abroad  the  matter"  (Mark  1:45).  The 
two  blind  men  whose  eyes  Jesus  opened,  **when 
they  were  departed,  spread  abroad  His  fame  in 
all  that  country"  (Matt.  9:  31).  The  deaf  man 
with  an  impediment  in  his  speech,  when  his 
ears  were  opened,  and  the  string  of  his  tongue 
was  loosed,  though  charged  to  tell  no  man;  "but 
the  more  He  charged  them,  so  much  the  more 
a  great  deal  they  published  it"  (Mark  7:  36). 
The  woman  healed  of  her  infirmity,  "immediate- 
ly she  was  made  straight,  and  glorified  God" 
(Luke  13:  13).  The  man  born  blind,  whose 
eyes  Jesus  anointed,  said,  "I  went  and  washed 
and  I  received  my  sight."  "  One  thing  I  know 
that,  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see"  (John  9: 
II,  25).  The  saved  will  bear  testimony  for 
Jesus  in  Heaven;  "Unto  Him  that  loved  us, 
and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood, 
and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God 
and  His  Father;  to  Him  be  glory  and  dominion 
forever  and  ever.    Amen"  (Rev.  1:5). 

The  saved  will  also  try  to  bring  others  to 
Jesus.  John  the  Baptist  said,  "Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world"  (John  i:  29).  Andrew  "  first  findeth  his 
own  brother  Simon,  and  saith  unto  him,  we  have 
found  the  Messias,  which  is,  being  interpreted, 


112  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

the  Christ"  (John  i:  41).  Philip  findeth  Nath- 
aniel, and  said  unto  him,  we  have  found  him  of 
whom  Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets,  did 
write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth"  (John  i:  45).  The 
disciples  scattered  abroad,  by  the  persecution 
of  the  church,  after  the  stoning  of  Stephen, 
"  went  everywhere  preaching  the  Word."  "And 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  with  them;  and  a 
great  number  believed,  and  turned  unto  the 
Lord"  (Acts  8:  4;  11:  19).  These  were  not  duly 
appointed  ministers,  or  missionaries;  but 
believers  scattered  by  persecution;  and  wher- 
ever they  went  they  talked  about  the  glad  tid- 
ings of  Christ;  and  the  Lord  was  with  them: 
and  a  great  number  believed  and  turned  unto 
the  Lord. 

Before  His  ascension  Jesus  told  his  dis- 
ciples, "  Ye  shall  receive  power  after  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  come  upon  you:  and  ye  shall  be  wit- 
nesses unto  Me  both  at  Jerusalem,  and  in  all 
Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the  uttermost 
part  of  the  earth"  (Acts  i :  8).  Every  child  of 
God  is  a  witness  for  Christ,  wherever  he  may 
be.  He  is  not  only  so  by  talking  of  Christ,  and 
telling  men  the  Gospel  or  glad  tidings,  but  is  in 
his  life  and  conversation  a  living  epistle, 
"known  and  read  of  all  men;  forasmuch  as  ye 
are  manifestly  declared  to  be  the  epistle  of 
Christ  ministered  by  us,  written  not  with  ink 
but  with  the  Spirit  of  the  living  God;  not  in 
tables  of  stone,  but  in  fleshly  tables  of  the 
head"  (II  Cor.  3:  2).      With  Paul  he  will  say, 


WITNESSKS    FUR    CHRIST,  M^ 

"  Christ  shall  be  magnified  in  my  body, 
whether  it  be  by  life,  or  by  death.  For  to  me 
to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain"  (Phil,  i :  20). 


2  14  CHILDREN    OF    GOD, 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  GOD  MUST  GROW. 

A  CHILD  who  does  not  grow  in  knowledge  is 
virtually  dead.  True  life  in  man  combines 
health,  growth,  activity  and  happiness.  The 
Christian  who  does  not  grow  in  grace  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
is  likewise  virtually  dead.  "  Faith  if  it  have 
not  works  is  dead"  (James  2:  17).  The  barren 
fig  tree  will  be  cut  down.  **  Every  branch  in 
me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  away" 
(John  15:  2).  A  branch  that  does  not  grow 
cannot  bear  fruit.  Joined  to  Christ,  as  the 
branch  is  to  the  vine,  and  drawing  life  from 
Him,  we  will  be  constantly  growing,  and  bear- 
ing fruit  to  the  glory  of  God.  A  child  of  God, 
when  born  of  the  Spirit,  has  passed  from  death 
to  everlasting  life.  His  sins  are  atoned  for. 
**  As  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  so  far  hath 
he  removed  our  transgressions  from  us"  (Psm. 
103:  3,  12).  "  Being  justified  by  faith,  we  have 
peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ" 
(Rom.  5;  i).  But  he  is  a  child  just  beginning 
to  live.  He  is  saved,  but  he  must  work  out  the 
salvation  he  has  received;  remembering  that  it 
is  God  who  worketh  in  him  both  to  will  and  to 
do.  Saved  by  the  grace  of  God  he  has  to  grow 
in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ  contin- 
ually.     Peter    closes    his    epistles    with,   "  Ye 


MUST    GROW.  115 

therefore,  beloved,  seeing  ye  know  these  things 
before,  beware  lest  ye  also,  being  led  away  with 
the  error  of  the  wicked,  fall  from  your  own 
steadfastness.  But  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.  To  Him  be  glory  both  now  and  for 
ever.  Amen"  (II  Peter  3:  18).  Men  have  lost 
the  knowledge  of  God,  "  and  even  as  they  did 
not  like  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge,  God 
gave  them  over  to  a  reprobate  mind,  to  do 
those  things  which  are  not  convenient;  being 
filled  with  all  unrighteousness,  fornication, 
wickedness,  covetousness,"  &c.,&c.  (Rom.  i:  28- 
31).  We  must  grow  in  the  knowledge  of  God  in 
Christ.  In  His  prayer  for  His  disciples,  and  for 
those  who  shall  believe  on  Him  through  their 
word,  in  the  17th  chapter  of  John,  Jesus  said, 
"Father,  the  hour  has  come;  glorify  Thy  Son, 
that  Thy  Son  also  may  glorify  Thee:  as  Thou  hast 
given  Him  power  over  all  flesh,  that  He  should 
give  eternal  life  to  as  many  as  Thou  hast  given 
Him.  And  this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might 
.know  Thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  Thou  hast  sent"  (John  17:  i).  He  had 
before  told  them,  "  All  things  are  delivered  to 
Me  of  My  Father;  and  no  man  knoweth  who 
the  Son  is,  but  the  Father;  and  who  the  Father 
is,  but  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom  the  Son  will 
reveal  Him"  (Luke  10:  22).  The  children  of 
God  who  have  received  this  revelation,  and 
have  eternal  life,  are  therefore  told  to  grow  in 
grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  Jesus 


Il6  CHILDREN   OF   GOD. 

Christ.  Peter  tells  them  how  they  are  to  grow. 
"  As  new-born  babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk  of 
the  word,  that  ye  may  grow  thereby"  (I  Pet.  2: 
2).  Paul  writing  to  the  "  Sanctified  in  Christ 
Jesus,  called  saints,"  in  Corinth,  addresses  them 
"  as  babes  in  Christ,"  and  says,  "  I  have  fed  you 
with  milk,  and  not  with  meat;  for  hitherto  ye 
were  not  able  to  bear  it,  neither  yet  are  ye  able, 
for  ye  are  carnal"  (I  Cor.  3:  2).  In  the  Epistle 
to  the  Hebrews  it  is  written,  "  For  when  for  the 
time  ye  ought  to  be  teachers,  ye  have  need  that 
one  teach  you  again  which  be  the  first  principles 
of  the  oracles  of  God;  and  are  become  such  as 
have  need  of  milk,  and  not  of  strong  meat.  For 
every  one  that  useth  milk  is  unskillful  in  the 
word  of  righteousness:  for  he  is  a  babe"  (Heb. 
5:12). 

Paul  with  all  his  revelations,  and  though  sure 
that  he  was  saved,  and  had  everlasting  life,  and 
that  for  him  to  die  was  gain,  to  depart  was  to 
be  with  Christ,  writes,  "  Brethren,  I  count  not 
myself  to  have  apprehended:  but  this  one  thing 
I  do,  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind, 
and  reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are 
before,  I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus"  (Phil.  3: 
8-14).  Jesus  prayed,  "  Sanctify  them  through 
Thy  truth:  Thy  Word  is  truth"  (John  17:  17). 
The  new-born  child  of  God  will  continue  to 
grow  forever. 

Paul  and  Timotheus  writing  to  the  saints  and 
faithful  brethren  in  Christ  which  are  at  Colasse 


MUST    GROW.  117 

say,  "  We  do  not  cease  to  pray  for  you,  and  to 
desire  that  ye  might  be  filled  with  the  know- 
ledge of  His  will  in  all  wisdom  and  spiritual 
understanding;  that  ye  might  walk  worthy  of 
the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing,  being  fruitful  in 
every  good  work,  and  increasing  in  the  know- 
ledge of  God;  strengthened  with  all  might, 
according  to  His  glorious  power,  unto  all 
patience  and  long  suffering  with  joyfulness; 
giving  thanks  unto  the  Father,  who  hath  made 
us  meet  to  be  partakers  of  the  inheritance  of 
the  saints  in  light:  who  hath  delivered  from  the 
power  of  darkness,  and  hath  translated  us  into 
the  kingdom  of  His  dear  Son :  in  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  His  blood,  even  the  for- 
giveness of  sins"  (Col.  i:  9). 

The  whole  Bible  is  a  revelation  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  To  grow  in  grace  and  the  know- 
ledge of  Him,  we  must  know  the  Scriptures. 
To  know  them,  we  must  study  them  and  feed 
upon  them;  and  see  Christ  in  them  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end.  We  must  receive  Him, 
as  He  is  revealed  in  them;  for  the  Word  is 
Christ.  "  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and 
the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God.  *  *  *  And  the  Word  was  made  flesh, 
and  dwelt  among  us,  and  we  beheld  His  glory, 
the  glory  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father, 
full  of  grace  and  truth.  *  *  *  And  of  His 
fulness  have  all  we  received,  and  grace  for 
grace"  (John  i:  i,  14,  16).  Christ  says,  "  I  am 
the  living  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven; 


Il8  CHILDREN    OF    GOD. 

if  any  man  eat  of  this  bread,  he  shall  live  for- 
ever." *  *  *  *'It  is  the  Spirit  that  quick- 
eneth;  the  flesh  profiteth  nothing;  the  words 
that  I  speak  unto  you,  they  are  Spirit,  and  they 
are  life"  (John  6:  51,  63).  As  the  children  of 
Israel  had  to  gather  the  manna  every  day  so 
are  we  to  gather  and  feed  upon  the  words  of 
Christ,  and  thus  to  feed  upon  Him  day  by  day. 
Another  way  to  grow  in  grace  and  the  know- 
ledge of  Christ,  and  to  be  a  witness  for  Him,  is 
to  be  regular  in  our  attendance  at  the  meetings 
of  the  church  with  which  we  are  connected, 
and  to  fill  our  place  there.  The  Word  of  God 
tells  us,  **  Let  us  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our 
faith  without  wavering;  (for  He  is  faithful  that 
promised);  and  let  us  consider  one  another  to 
provoke  unto  love  and  to  good  works;  not  for- 
saking the  assembling  of  ourselves  together,  as 
the  manner  of  some  is;  but  exhorting  one 
another:  and  so  much  the  more,  as  ye  see  the 
day  approaching"  (Heb.  10:  23;  3:  13).  We 
need  faith  in  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
"  Again  I  say  unto  you,  that  if  two  of  you 
shall  agree  on  earth,  as  touching  anything  that 
they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  Heaven.  For  where  two  or 
three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there 
am  I  in  the  midst  of  them"  (Matt.  18:  19;  John 
16:  23).  If  we  love  Him,  we  will  go  where  He 
promises  to  meet  us.  If  we  believe  Him,  we 
will  be  where  two  or  three  gather  in  His  name 
to  pray.      Every  member  of  the  church  should 


MUST    GROW.  119 

take  interest  in  its  meetings,  and  give  them  the 
precedence  over  all  other  gatherings.  Every 
member,  according  to  the  gift  of  the  Spirit, 
should  take  part  in  them.  '*  There  are  diversit- 
ies of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit.  *  *  *  The 
manifestation  of  the  Spirit  is  given  to  every 
man  to  profit  withal.  *  *  *  Por  all  these 
worketh  the  self -same  Spirit,  dividing  to  every 
man  severally  as  He  will.  For  as  the  body  is 
one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the 
members  of  that  one  body,  being  many,  are  one 
body;  so  also  is  Christ.  For  by  one  Spirit  are 
we  all  baptized  into  one  body"  (I  Cor.  12:4,  7, 
11).  *•  How  is  it  then  brethren?  When  ye  come 
together,  every  one  of  you  hath  a  psalm,  hath  a 
doctrine,  hath  a  tongue,  hath  a  revelation,  hath 
an  interpretation.  Let  all  things  be  done  unto 
edifying.  *  *  *  For  ye  may  all  prophesy  one 
by  one,  that  all  may  learn,  and  all  may  be 
comforted"  (I  Cor.  14:  26,  31).  "Wherefore 
comfort  yourselves  together,  and  edify  one 
another,  even  as  also  ye  do"  (IThess.  5:  u). 
The  Revised  Version  says,  "  Wherefore  exhort 
one  another,  and  build  each  other  up,  even  as  also 
ye  do."  "  Speaking  to  yourselves  in  psalms  and 
hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  singing  and  making 
melody  in  your  heart  to  the  Lord;  giving 
thanks  always  for  all  things  unto  God  and  the 
Father  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ" 
(Eph.  5:  19).  ''Let  the  Word  of  Christ  dwell  in 
you  richly  in  all  wisdom;  teaching  and  admon- 
ishing one  another  in  psalms  and  hymns  and 


I20  CHILDREN    OF    GOD, 

spiritual  songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your 
hearts  to  the  Lord"  (Col.  3:  i6).  If  you  want 
to  grow  in  grace  and  knowledge,  do  not  neglect 
the  means  of  grace;  "  Forsake  not  the  assemb- 
ling of  yourselves  together  as  the  manner  of 
some  is."  We  hear  members  of  volunteer 
military  companies  boast  that  they  have  not 
missed  attending  a  single  weekly  drill  for 
years.  The  believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
has  much  more  reason  to  attend  regularly  the 
weekly  meetings  of  His  church.  That  he  may 
grow  in  grace  and  knowledge  himself,  and  be 
fitted  to  be  **  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ"  (II 
Tim.  2:  3).  As  the  Christian  grows  in  the  grace 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  knowledge  of  Christ, 
he  will  not  only  be  increasing  his  own  spiritual 
joy  and  peace,  but  knowing  more  of  Christ,  and 
of  His  Word,  he  will  be  better  able  to  bear 
testimony  for  Christ,  to  bring  souls  to  Him,  and 
to  strengthen  and  comfor  His  sheep  and 
His  lambs. 

"  Now  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again 
from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that  Great  Shep- 
herd of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the 
everlasting  covenant,  make  you  perfect  in 
every  good  work  to  do  His  will,  working  in 
you  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  His  sight, 
through  Jesus  Christ;  to  whom  be  glory 
forever  and  ever.     Amen"  (Heb.  13:  20). 


CHILDREN  OF  GOD 

AND 

UNION   WITH   CHRIST 

PART  II. 

UNION  WITH  CHRIST. 


Abide  In  me  and  I  in  you,"  "I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 

branches  :  He  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same 

beareth  much   fruit ;  for  apart  from  me   ye  can  do 

nothing." — John  xv:  i-io.     "That  they  ali  may 

be  one,  as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in 

thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us," 

•'  I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me." — 

John  xvii :  ii,  21,  23,  26. 


INDEX.— Part  II. 

Page 
The  most  important  of  all  knowledge  is  to 

know  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 125 

The  Lord  Jesus  Christ. — His  name — Lord.  137 
The  Lord  Jesus  Christ. — His  name — Jesus.  144 
The  Lord  Jesus  Christ. — His  name — Christ.  147 

Christ  our  Anointed  Prophet 150 

Christ  our  Anointed  Priest. 159 

Union  of  believers,  with  Christ,  in  his  death, 

burial  and  resurrection 164 

Christ  our  Anointed  King 172 

Union  with  Christ — Christ  our  Life 1 82 

Union  with  Christ — Christ  our  Food 187 

Union  with  Christ — Father,  Brother,  Friend  202 

Union  with  Christ — Husband  and  Wife 207 

Christ  corner-stone,  believers  living  stones 

built  on  him 214 

Christ  and  Believers — Shepherd  and  Sheep.  218 
Christ  the   Head,   and  believers  in   Him, 

members  of  His  body 227 

Christ    the    Vine,   believers    in    Him  the 

branches 234 

Union  of  believers  with   Christ  and  the 

Holy  Spirit,  and  the   Father,  one  in 

^^^ >^;?^ 


KNOW    THE    LORD    JESUS   CHRIST.  X25 


THE    MOST    IMPORTANT    OF    ALL 

KNOWLEDGE    IS    TO    KNOW 

THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 

Paul,  writing  to  the  saints  in  Rome,  says: 
"  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ:  for 
it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  to  every- 
one that  believeth;  to  the  Jew  first,  and  also  to 
the  Greek"  (Rom.  i:  i6).  Writing  to  the 
saints  in  Christ  Jesus,  at  Philippi,  he  says,  "  I 
count  all  things  but  loss,  for  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus,  my  Lord;  for 
whom  I  have  sufiFered  the  loss  of  all  things,  and 
do  count  them  but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ, 
and  be  found  in  Him,  not  having  mine  own 
righteousness,  which  is  of  the  law,  but  that 
which  is  through  the  faith  of  Christ,  the 
righteousness  which  is  of  God  by  faith:  that  I 
may  know  Him  "  (Phil.  3:  8).  In  his  prayer 
for  his  disciples,  Jesus  said,  "  This  is  life  eter- 
nal, that  they  might  know  Thee,  the  only  true 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent  " 
(John  17:  3).  "Jesus  saith  unto  Thomas,  I  am 
the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life:  no  man 
Cometh  unto  the  Father  but  by  me.  If  ye  had 
known  me,  ye  should  have  known  my  Father 
also:  and  from  henceforth  ye  know  Him,  and 
have  seen  Him "  (John  14:  6).  In  the  first 
chapter  of  First  Corinthians,  Paul  brings  the 


126 


UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


name  of  Christ  in  seventeen  times;  it  appears 
in  almost  every  verse.  He  then  says,  "And  I, 
brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  came  not  with 
excellency  of  speech  or  of  wisdom,  declaring 
unto  you  the  testimony  of  God.  For  I  deter- 
mined not  to  know  anything  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified"  (i  Cor.  2:  i). 

The  following  to  the  end  of  this  chapter  is  an 
extract  from  "  The  Fountain  of  Life,"  by  Rev. 
John  Flavel,  A.D.  1671  {American  Tract  Society). 
It  is  the  introductory  chapter,  showing  the  im- 
portance of  the  knowledge  of  Christ. 

"  The  excellency  of  the  subject. 

*'For  I  determined  not  to  know  any  thing 
among  you,  save  Jesus  Christy  and  Him  cruci- 
fied ^ — I  Cor.  2:  2. 

The  former  verse  contains  an  apology  for  the 
plain  and  familiar  manner  of  the  apostle's 
preaching,  which  was  "  not  with  the  excellency 
of  speech,  or  of  wisdom:  "  he  studied  not  to 
gratify  their  curiosity  with  rhetorical  strains,  or 
philosophical  niceties;  for  he  says,  "  I  deter- 
mined not  to  know  any  thing  among  you,  save 
Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified." 

*^^  I  determined  not  to  know.''  The  meaning  is 
not,  that  he  despised  or  contemned  all  other 
knowledge,  but  so  far  only  as  it  might  stand  in 
competition  with,  or  opposition  to  the  knowledge 
of  Jesus  Christ.  As  if  he  had  said,  "  It  is  my 
stated,  settled  judgment;  not  a  hasty,  incon- 
siderate censure,  but  the  result  of  my  most 


KNOW    THE    LORD    JESUS   CHRIST.  1 27 

serious  inquiries.  After  I  have  well  weighed 
the  case,  viewed  it  exactly  on  every  side,  bal- 
anced all  advantages  and  disadvantages,  pon- 
dered all  things  that  are  fit  to  come  into 
consideration  about  it;  this  is  the  issue  and 
final  determination,  that  all  other  knowledge, 
how  profitable,  how  pleasant  soever,  is  not 
worthy  to  be  named  in  comparison  with  the 
knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ.  This,  therefore,  I 
resolve  to  make  the  scope  and  end  of  my  min- 
istry, and  the  end  regulates  the  means;  such 
pedantic  toys  and  airy  notions  as  injudicious 
ears  affect,  would  rather  obstruct  than  promote 
my  grand  design  among  you;  therefore,  wholly 
waving  that  way,  I  applied  myself  to  a  plain, 
popular,  unaffected  dialect,  fitted  rather  to 
pierce  the  heart  and  convince  the  conscience, 
than  to  please  the  fancy. 

" '/  determined  not  to  know  any  thing ' — to 
study  nothing  myself,  to  teach  nothing  to  you, 
but  *  Jesus  Christ.'  Christ  shall  be  the  centre 
to  which  all  the  lines  of  my  ministry  shall  be 
drawn.  I  have  spoken  and  written  of  many 
other  subjects  in  my  sermons  and  epistles,  but 
it  is  all  as  consequent  upon  preaching  and 
making  known  Jesus  Christ:  of  all  the  subjects 
in  the  world,  this  is  the  sweetest;  if  there  be 
anything,  on  this  side  of  heaven,  worthy  our 
time  and  studies,  this  is  it.  Thus  he  magnifies 
his  doctrine,  from  the  excellency  of  its  subject, 
accounting  all  other  doctrines  but  airy  things, 
9ompared  with  this. 


128  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

"Jesus  Christ  and  Him  crucified^  This 
topic  he  singled  out  from  all  the  rest  of  the  ex- 
cellent truths  of  Christ,  on  which  to  spend  the 
main  strength  of  his  ministry:  Christ  as  cruci- 
fied :  and  the  rather,  because  hereby  he  would 
obviate  the  vulgar  prejudice  raised  against  Him 
upon  the  account  of  His  cross;  for  Christ  cruci- 
fied was  "  to  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and 
to  the  Greeks,  foolishness."  i  Cor.  i:  23.  This 
also  best  suited  his  end,  to  draw  them  on  to 
Christ;  as  Christ  above  all  other  subjects,  so 
Christ  crucified  above  all  things  in  Christ. 

The  manner  in  which  he  discoursed  on  this 
transcendent  subject  to  them,  is  also  remarka- 
ble; he  not  only  preached  Christ  crucified,  but 
he  preached  Him  assiduously  and  plainly.  He 
preached  Christ  frequently;  "  and  whenever  he 
preached  of  Christ  crucified,  he  preached  Him 
in  a  crucified  style. "  This  is  the  sum  of  the 
words;  to  let  them  know  that  his  spirit  was  in- 
tent upon  this  subject,  as  if  he  neither  knew 
nor  cared  to  speak  of  any  other.  All  his  ser- 
mons were  so  full  of  Christ,  that  hearers  might 
have  thought  he  was  acquainted  with  no  other 
doctrine.     Hence, 

No  doctrine  is  more  excellent y  or  necessary  to 
be  preached  and  studied^  than  Jesus  Christy  and 
Him  crucified. 

All  other  knowledge,  how  much  soever  it  be 
magnified  in  the  world,  is,  and  ought  to  be, 
esteemed  but  dross,  in  comparison  with  the  ex- 
cellency of    the  knowledge  of    Jesus  Christ. 


KNOW    THE    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.  1 29 

Phil.  ^:  S.  *'  In  whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures 
of  wisdom  and  knowledge."     Col.  2:  3. 

Eudoxus  was  so  affected  with  the  glory  of  the 
sun,  that  he  thought  he  was  born  only  to  be- 
hold it:  much  more  should  a  Christian  judge 
himself  born  only  to  behold  and  delight  in  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

I.  Consider  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge 
of  Christ  tn  itself. 

I.  It  is  the  very  marrow  and  kernel  of  all  the 
Scriptures ;  the  scope  and  centre  of  all  divine 
revelations.  The  ceremonial  law  is  full  of 
Christ,  and  all  the  Gospel  is  full  of  Christ:  the 
blessed  lines  of  both  Testaments  meet  in  Him; 
and  how  they  both  harmonize,  and  sweetly  con- 
centre in  Jesus  Christ,  it  is  the  chief  scope  of 
the  excellent  epistle  to  the  Hebrews  to  unfold; 
for  we  may  call  that  epistle  the  sweet  harmony 
of  both  Testaments. 

This  argues  the  unspeakable  excellenjy  of 
this  doctrine,  the  knowledge  whereof  must 
needs,  therefore,  be  a  key  to  unlock  the  greatest 
part  of  the  sacred  Scriptures.  For  it  is  in  the 
understanding  of  Scripture,  much  as  in  the 
knowledge  of  logic  and  philosophy:  if  a  scholar 
once  come  to  understand  the  foundation — 
principle,  upon  which,  as  upon  its  hinge,  the 
controversy  turns,  the  true  knowledge  of  that 
principle  shall  carry  him  through  the  whole 
controversy,  and  furnish  him  with  a  solution  to 
every  argument. 

Even  so  the  rv^VA  knowie  I'^e  of  Jesus  Christ, 


130  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

like  a  clue,  leads  you  through  the  whole  laby- 
rinth of  the  Scriptures. 

2.  The  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  is  2i  funda- 
mental knowledge ;  and  foundations  are  most 
useful,  though  least  seen. 

It  is  fundamental  to  all  graces;  they  all  begin 
in  knowledge.  *'  The  new  man  is  renewed  in 
knowledge."  Col.  3:  10.  As  the  old,  so  the 
new  creation  begins  in  light;  the  opening  of 
the  eyes  is  the  first  work  of  the  Spirit:  and  as 
the  beginnings  of  grace,  so  all  its  growth  de- 
pends upon  this  increasing  knowledge;  "But 
grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour."  2  Pet.  3:  18.  See  how 
these  two,  grace  and  knowledge,  keep  equal 
pace  in  the  soul  of  a  Christian;  in  what  degree 
the  one  increases  the  other  increases  also. 

It  is  fundamental  to  all  duties.  The  duties, 
as  well  as  the  graces  of  all  Christians,  are  all 
founded  in  the  knowledge  of  Christ. 

Must  a  Christian  believe  ?  That  he  can 
never  do  without  the  knowledge  of  Christ: 
faith  is  so  much  dependent  on  his  knowledge, 
that  it  is  denominated  by  it;  "  By  His  knowl- 
edge shall  my  righteous  servant  justify  many," 
Isa.  53:  11;  and  hence,  in  John  6:  40,  seeing  and 
believing  are  made  the  same  thing.  Would  a 
man  exercise  hope  in  God  ?  That  he  can  never 
do  without  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  for  He  is 
the  author  of  that  hope,  i  Pet.  1:3;  He  is  also 
its  object,  Heb.  6:  19;  its  groundwork  and 
support,  Col.  i:  27.     And  as  you  cannot  believe 


KNOW    THE    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.  I3I 

or  hope,  so  neither  can  you  pray  acceptably 
without  a  competent  degree  of  this  knowl- 
edge. The  very  heathen  could  say,  '*  Men 
must  not  speak  of  God  without  light."  The 
true  way  of  conversing  with,  and  enjoying 
God  in  prayer,  is  by  acting  faith  on  Him 
through  a  Mediator.  Oh,  then,  how  indispensa- 
ble is  the  knowledge  of  Christ  to  all  who  address 
themselves  to  God  in  any  duty! 

It  is  fundamental  to  all  comforts:  all  the 
comforts  of  believers  are  streams  from  this 
fountain.  Jesus  Christ  is  the  very  object  of  a 
believer's  joy;  ''  We  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus." 
Phil.  3:  3.  Take  away  the  knowledge  of 
Christ,  and  Christians  would  be  the  most  sad 
and  melancholy  beings  in  the  world:  again,  let 
Christ  but  manifest  Himself,  and  dart  the 
beams  of  His  light  into  their  souls,  it  will  make 
them  kiss  the  stake,  sing  in  the  flames,  and 
shout  in  the  pangs  of  death,  as  men  that  divide 
the  spoil. 

This  knowledge  is  fundamental  to  the  eternal 
happiness  of  souls:  as  we  can  perform  no  duty, 
enjoy  no  comfort,  so  neither  can  we  be  saved 
without  it,  "This  is  life  eternal,  that  they 
might  know  Thee  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent."     John  17:  3. 

And  if  it  be  life  eternal  to  know  Christ,  then 
it  is  eternal  damnation  to  be  ignorant  of  Christ: 
as  Christ  is  the  door  that  opens  heaven,  so 
knowledge  is  the  key  that  opens  Christ.  The 
excellent  gifts  and  renowned  parts  of  the  moral 


132  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

heathen,  though  they  purchased  to  them  great 
esteem  and  honor  among  men,  yet  left  them  in 
a  state  of  perdition,  because  of  this  great 
defect,  that  they  were  ignorant  of  Christ. 
I  Cor.  i:  21. 

3.  The  knowledge  of  Christ  isprofoundand 
large:  all  other  sciences  are  but  shadows;  this 
is  a  boundless,  bottomless  ocean;  no  creature 
hath  a  line  long  enough  to  fathom  the  depth  of 
it;  there  is  height,  length,  depth,  and  breadth 
ascribed  to  it,  Eph.  3:  18;  yea,  it  passeth 
knowledge.  There  is  a  manifold  wisdom  of 
God  in  Christ.  Eph.  3:  10.  It  is  indeed  simple, 
pure,  and  unmixed  with  any  thing  but  itself, 
yet  is  manifold  in  degrees,  kinds,  and  adminis- 
trations Though  something  of  Christ  be  un- 
folded in  one  age,  and  something  in  another, 
yet  eternity  itself  cannot  fully  unfold  Him.  1 
see  something,  said  Luther,  which  blessed 
Augustine  saw  not;  and  those  that  come  after 
me,  will  see  that  which  I  see  not.  It  is  in  the 
studying  of  Christ,  as  in  the  planting  of  a  new- 
discovered  country;  at  first  men  sit  down  by 
the  sea-side,  upon  the  skirts  and  borders  of  the 
land,  and  there  they  dwell;  but  by  degrees  they 
search  further  and  further  into  the  heart  of  the 
country.  Ah,  the  best  of  us  are  yet  but  upon 
the  borders  of  this  vast  continent  ! 

4.  The  study  of  Jesus  Christ  is  thg  most 
noble  subject  that  ever  a  soul  spent  itself  upon. 
The  angels  study  this  doctrine,  and  stoop  down 
to  look  into  this  deep  abyss .   What  are  the  truths 


KNOW    THE    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.  133 

discovered  in  Christ,  but  the  very  secrets  that 
from  eternity  lay  hid  in  the  bosom  of  God  ? 
Eph.  3:  8,  9.  God's  heart  is  opened  to  men  in 
Christ,  John  i:  i8;  this  makes  the  Gospel  such 
a  glorious  dispensation,  because  Christ  is  so 
gloriously  revealed  therein,  2  Cor.  3:  9;  and 
the  studying  of  Christ  in  the  Gospel,  stamps 
such  a  heavenly  glory  upon  the  contemplating 
soul.     Verse  18. 

5.  It  is  the  most  sweet  and  comfortable 
knowledge.  To  be  studying  Jesus  Christ,  what 
is  it  but  to  be  digging  among  all  the  veins  and 
springs  of  comfort?  and  the  deeper  you  dig,  the 
more  do  these  springs  flow  upon  you.  How  are 
hearts  enraptured  with  the  discoveries  of  Christ 
in  the  Gospel !  what  ecstasies,  meltings,  trans- 
ports, do  gracious  souls  meet  there  ! 

II.  Let  us  compare  this  knowledge  with  all 
other  knowledge. 

1.  All  other  knowledge  is  natural,  but  this 
wholly  supernatural,  "  No  man  knoweth  the 
Son,  but  the  Father;  neither  knoweth  any  the 
Father,  save  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom  soever 
the  Son  will  reveal  Him."  Matt.  11:  27.  The 
wisest  heathen  could  never  make  a  discovery  of 
Christ  by  their  deepest  searches  into  nature; 
the  most  eagle-eyed  philosophers  were  but 
children  in  knowledge  compared  with  the  most 
illiterate  Christians. 

2.  Other  knowledge  is  unattainable  by  many. 
All  the  helps  and  means  in  the  world  would 
never  enable  some  Christians   to    attain    the 


J34  UNIOV    WITH    CHRIST. 

learned  arts  and  languages;  men  of  the  bright- 
est parts  are  most  excellent  in  these;  but  here 
is  the  mystery  and  excellency  of  the  knowledge 
of  Christ,  that  men  of  most  blunt,  dull,  and 
contemptible  parts  attain,  through  the  teaching 
of  the  Spirit,  to  this  knowledge,  in  which  the 
more  acute  and  ingenious  are  utterly  blind:  "  I 
thank  Thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth,  because  Thou  hast  hid  these  things  from 
the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them 
unto  babes."  Matt,  ii:  25.  **  Ye  see  your  call- 
ing, brethren,  how  that  not  many  wise  men 
after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty,  not  many 
noble,  are  called:  but  God  hath  chosen  the 
foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the 
wise."     I  Cor.  i:  26,  27. 

3.  Other  knowledge,  though  you  should  at- 
tain the  highest  degree  of  it,  would  never  bring 
you  to  heaven.  The  principal  thing,  namely 
Christ,  being  wanting.  Other  knowledge  is 
also  defective,  in  the  purity  of  its  nature:  the 
learned  heathens  grew  vain  in  their  imagina- 
tions, Rom.  i:  21;  and  in  its  efficacy  and  influ- 
ence on  the  heart  and  life:  they  held  the  truth 
in  unrighteousness:  their  lusts  were  stronger 
than  their  light,  Rom.  i:  18.  But  this  knowl- 
edge has  most  powerful  influences,  changing 
souls  into  its  own  image,  2  Cor.  3:  18,  and  so 
proves  a  saving  knowledge  unto  men.  i  Tim.. 
2:  4. 

Inference  i.  The  sufficiency  of  the  doctrine 
of   Christ,  to  make   men  wise  unto  salvation. 


KNOW    THE   LORD    JESUS   CHRIST.  1 35 

Paul  desired  to  know  nothing  else;  and,  indeed, 
nothing  else  is  of  absolute  necessity  to  be 
known.  A  little  of  this  knowledge,  if  saving 
and  effectual  upon  thy  heart,  will  do  the  soul 
more  service  than  all  the  vain  speculation  and 
profound  parts  in  which  others  so  much  glory. 

Poor  Christian,  be  not  dejected,  because  thou 
seest  thyself  outstript  and  excelled  by  so  many 
in  other  parts  of  knowledge;  if  thou  know 
Jesus  Christ,  thou  knowest  enough  to  comfort 
and  save  thy  soul.  Many  learned  philosophers 
are  now  in  hell,  and  many  illiterate  Christians 
in  heaven. 

This  may  inform  us  by  what  rule  to  judge 
both  ministers  and  doctrine.  Certainly  that  is 
the  highest  commendation  of  a  minister,  to  be 
**  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament;  not 
of  the  letter,  but  of  the  spirit."  2  Cor.  3:  6. 
He  is  the  best  preacher,  that  can  in  the  most 
lively  and  powerful  manner,  display  Jesus  Christ 
before  the  people,  evidently  setting  Him  forth 
as  crucified  among  them;  and  that  is  the  best 
sermon  which  is  most  full  of  Christ,  not  of 
rhetorical  art. 

I  know  that  a  holy  dialect  well  becometh 
Christ's  ministers;  they  should  not  be  rude  or 
careless  in  language  or  method;  but  surely  the 
excellency  of  a  sermon  lies  not  in  that,  but  in 
the  plainest  exhibition  and  liveliest  application 
of  Jesus  Christ. 

Let  all  that  mind  the  honor  of  religion,  or 
the  peace  and    comfort  of    their    own  souls. 


130  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

wholly  apply  themselves  to  the  study  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  Him  crucified. 

As  to  the  people  that  sit  under  the  doctrine 
of  Christ  daily,  and  have  the  light  of  His 
knowledge  shining  round  about  them:  take 
heed  ye  do  not  reject  and  despise  this  light. 

This  may  be  done  by  neglecting  the  means 
of  knowledge.  Surely,  if  you  thus  reject 
knowledge,  God  will  reject  you.     Hos.  4:  6. 

Take  heed  also  that  you  rest  not  satisfied 
with  that  knowledge  of  Christ  you  have  attained, 
but  go  on  to  perfection 


HIS   NAME,    LORD.  137 


THE    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.        HIS 
NAME.   LORD. 

In  the  Scriptures  great  stress  is  laid  on  the 
name  of  God.  Each  different  name  ascribed  to 
Him  reveals  Him.  In  the  Bible,  God  thus  re- 
veals Himself,  by  many  different  names  ;  such 
as,  Father,  Husband,  Saviour,  The  God  of  all 
Grace,  The  God  of  Patience  and  Consolation, 
The  God  of  Hope,  The  God  of  Peace,  etc ,  etc. 
The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  likewise  reveals  Himself 
to  us  in  the  Scriptures  by  the  use  of  very  many 
names.  When  God  sent  Moses  to  deliver  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  Moses  said  unto  God,  *'  Behold, 
when  I  come  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
shall  say  unto  them.  The  God  of  your  fathers 
hath  sent  me  unto  you  ;  and  they  shall  say  to 
me.  What  is  His  name  ?  what  shall  I  say  unto 
them  ?  And  God  said  unto  Moses,  I  am  that  I 
am:  and  He  said.  Thus  shalt  thou  say  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  I  Am  hath  sent  me  unto  you. 
And  God  said  moreover  unto  Moses,  The  Jeho- 
vah, God  of  your  fathers,  the  God  of  Abraham, 
the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob,  hath 
sent  me  imto  you:  this  is  my  name  forever,  and 
this  is  my  memorial  unto  all  generations" 
(Exod.  3:  13).  The  Lord  Jesus  refers  to  this 
name,  "I  am  the  God  of  Abraham,"  etc.,  in 
proof  of  the  resurrection  (Matt.  22:  32;   Mark 


138  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

12:  27;  Luke  20:  37).  His  name  Jehovah,  I 
Am,  appears  very  frequently  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, especially  in  the  Psalms.  That  name  of 
God  was  held  in  such  reverence  by  the  Jews, 
that  in  reading  the  Scriptures,  they  would  not 
pronounce  it,  but  would  put  another  word  in  its 
place.  In  our  Bible,  the  translators  have  done 
the  same.  Wherever  the  word  Lord  appears 
in  capitals  in  the  Old  Testament,  in  the  original 
it  is  Jehovah.  This  name  is  far  more  impres- 
sive, and  far  more  expressive,  and  it  should 
have  been  retained.  In  the  ten  command- 
ments, a  special  commandment  is,  That  His 
name  is  to  be  held  in  reverence,  and  not  to  be 
taken  in  vain.  The  Lord's  prayer  begins  with 
"Hallowed  be  Thy  name."  David  exclaims, 
"Bless  Jehovah,  O  my  soul:  and  all  that  is 
within,  bless  His  holy  name.  Bless  Jehovah,  O 
my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  His  benefits  :  who 
forg^veth  all  thine  iniquities ;  who  healeth  all 
thy  diseases ;  who  redeemeth  thy  life  from 
destruction  ;  who  crowneth  thee  with  loving 
kindness  and  tender  mercies ;  who  satisfieth  thy 
mouth  with  good  things ;  so  that  thy  youth  is 
renewed  like  the  eagle's"  (Psm.  103:  i). 

Among  the  predictions  in  Isaiah  of  the  com- 
ing of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  some  of  them 
refer  to  His  name,  and  to  His  being  God. 
**  Behold,  a  virgin  shall  conceive,  and  bear  a 
Son,  and  shall  call  His  name  Immanuel  "  (Isai. 
7:  14).  This  is  quoted  at  the  birth  of  Christ, 
"And  they  shall  call  His  name  Immanuel,  which 


HIS    NAME,    LORD.  139 

being  interpreted  is,  God  with  us"  (Matt,  i:  23). 
"  For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  Son  is 
given  :  and  the  government  shall  be  on  His 
shoulder :  and  His  name  shall  be  called  Won- 
derful, Counsellor,  The  Mighty  God,  The  Ever- 
lasting Father,  The  Prince  of  Peace.  Of  the 
increase  of  His  government  and  peace,  there 
shall  be  no  end"  (Isai.  9:  6).  The  names  and 
attributes  of  God  are  here  ascribed  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  Paul,  writing  to  Timothy,  says  : 
"Without  controversy,  great  is  the  mystery  of 
godliness  :  God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  justi- 
fied in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto 
the  Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the  world,  received 
up  mto  glory"  (i  Tim.  3:  16).  To  the  church 
in  Corinth  he  writes  :  "All  things  are  of  God, 
who  hath  reconciled  us  to  Himself  by  Jesus 
Christ,  and  hath  given  to  us  the  ministry  of 
reconciliation;  to  wit,  that  God  was  in  Christ, 
reconciling  the  world  unto  Himself,  not  imput- 
ing their  trespasses  unto  them"  (2  Cor.  5:  18). 
Jesus  asserts  this,  when  He  says,  "  I  and  my 
Father  are  one"  (John  10:  30).  "The  Father 
is  in  me,  and  I  in  Him  "  (John  10:  38).  "Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  before  Abraham  was,  I 
am"  (John  8:  58).  "Where  two  or  three  are 
gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in 
the  midst  of  them"  (Matt.  18:  20).  "Lo,  I  am 
with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world  "  (Matt.  28:  20).  To  do  this.  He  must  be 
omnipotent,  omniscient  and  omnipresent. 
The  children  of  God  are  to  be   baptized   "  in 


I40  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost"  (Matt.  28:  31) — not  names,  but 
one  name  ;  one  God. 

Speaking  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Scrip- 
tures tell  us,  "  He  was  in  the  world,  and  the 
world  was  made  by  Him  ;  and  the  world  knew 
Him  not.  He  came  unto  His  own,  and  His 
own  received  Him  not.  But  as  many  as  re- 
ceived Him,  to  them  gave  He  the  right  to 
become  children  of  God,  even  to  them  that 
believe  on  His  name  :  which  were  born,  not  of 
blood,  nor  of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the 
will  of  man,  but  of  God"  (John  i:  10).  We 
cannot  "  receive  Christ,"  unless  "  we  believe  on 
His  name."  We  cannot  believe  in  Him,  unless 
we  believe  in  his  name.  Peter,  speaking  to 
the  Jews,  after  healing  the  man  lame  from  his 
mother's  womb,  who  was  made  to  walk  and 
leap,  said  :  "  Ye  denied  the  Holy  One,  and  the 
Just,  and  desired  a  murderer  to  be  granted 
unto  you  ;  and  killed  the  Prince  of  Life,  whom 
God  hath  raised  from  the  dead  ;  whereof  we 
are  witnesses.  And  His  name,  through  faith  in 
his  name,  hath  made  this  man  strong,  whom 
ye  see  and  know  :  yea,  the  faith  which  is  by 
him  hath  given  him  this  perfect  soundness  in 
the  presence  of  you  all"  (Acts  3:  15).  They 
who  "believe  on  His  name  "  become  children 
of  God,  and  by  "  faith  in  His  name  "  are  made 
*' strong,"  and  receive  ''perfect  soundness." 
"But  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned 
already,  because  he   hath  not   believed  in  the 


HIS    NAMK,    LORD  14T 

name  of  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God  "  (John 
3:18,  36)  Again  and  again  Christ  says,  "  What- 
soever ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I  do, 
that  the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.  If 
ye  ask  anything  in  my  name,  I  will  do  it "  (John 
14:  13).  ''Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  what- 
soever ye  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my  name,  He 
will  give  it  you.  Hitherto  have  ye  asked  noth- 
ing in  my  name.  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive, 
that  your  joy  may  be  full''  (John  i6:  23).  His 
name,  His  whole  name,  "The  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,"  we  must  believe  in  ;  must  receive  ; 
must  be  saved  by ;  and  must  grow  in  the 
knowledge  of.  (Acts  11:  17;  15:  11;  16:31;  20: 
21;  Rom.  5:  I,  11;  6:  23;  8:  39;  16:  20;  2  Cor. 
13:  14;  Gal.  6:  18;  2  Thess.  3:  18;  i  Cor.  15:  57; 
2  Cor.  i:  2;  2  Pet.  3:  18). 

In  the  Scriptures,  the  creation  of  the  worlds, 
and  what  is  called  providence,  are  ascribed  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  "  To  us  there  is  but  one 
God,  the  Father,  of  whom  are  all  things,  and 
we  in  Him  ;  and  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by 
whom  are  all  things,  and  we  by  Him  "  (i  Cor. 
8:  6).  "  God,  who  at  sundry  times  and  in 
divers  manners  spake  in  time  past  unto  the 
fathers  by  the  prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days 
spoken  unto  us  by  His  Son,  whom  He  hath 
appointed  heir  of  all  things,  by  whom  also  He 
made  the  worlds  ;  who  being  the  brightness  of 
His  glory,  and  the  express  image  of  His  person, 
and  upholding  all  things  by  the  word  of  His 
power,  when   He  had  by  Himself  purged   our 


142  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

sins,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty 
on  high"  (Heb.  i:  i).  "In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  His  blood,  even  the  for- 
giveness of  sins  ;  who  is  the  image  of  the  invis- 
ible God,  the  first  born  of  every  creature  ;  for 
by  Him  were  all  things  created,  that  are  in 
heaven,  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and  invis- 
ible, whether  they  be  thrones,  or  dominions,  or 
principalities,  or  powers  :  all  things  were  cre- 
ated by  Him,  and  for  Him  :  and  He  is  before 
all  things,  and  by  Him  all  things  consist :  and 
He  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church  :  who  is 
the  beginning,  the  first  born  from  the  dead  ; 
that  in  all  things  He  might  have  the  pre- 
eminence. For  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in 
Him  should  all  fulness  dwell ;  and  having  made 
peace  through  the  blood  of  His  cross,  by  Him 
to  reconcile  all  things  unto  Himself  "  (Col.  i: 
14).  "  Let  this  mind  be  in  yon,  which  was  also 
in  Christ  Jesus  :  who,  being  in  the  form  of  God, 
thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God  : 
but  made  Himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took 
upon  Him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  was  made 
in  the  likeness  of  men :  and  being  found  in 
fashion  as  a  man.  He  humbled  Himself,  and 
became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of 
the  cross.  Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly 
exalted  Him,  and  given  Him  a  name  which  is 
above  every  name  :  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus 
every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven, 
and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth  ; 
and  that  every  tongue  should  confess  that  Jesus 


HIS    NAME,    LORD.  I43 

Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God,  the  Father" 
(Phil.  2:  5). 

Jesus  Christ  as  Lord  is  to  be  preached.  Paul 
says,  "  If  our  gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them 
that  are  lost :  in  whom  the  god  of  this  world 
hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them  which  believe 
not,  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of 
Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should  shine 
unto  them.  For  we  preach  not  ourselves,  but 
Christ  Jesus,  the  Lord"  (2  Cor.  4:  5).  We  are 
also  told,  "  The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy 
mouth,  and  in  thy  heart :  that  is  the  word  of 
faith,  which  we  preach  ;  that  if  thou  shalt  con- 
fess with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt 
believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  Him 
from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved  "  (Rom.  10: 
9).  "  For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved"  (Rom.  10:  13).  If 
we  do  not  believe  in  Him  as  The  Lord,  Jeho- 
vah, The  I  Am  ;  "Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yester- 
day, and  to-day,  and  forever"  (Heb.  13:  8),  our 
faith  is  vain,  we  are  yet  in  our  sins.  Believing 
in  Him  as  the  Lord,  we  can  trust  in  Him  as 
the  Jesus,  and  as  the  Christ.  We  are  sure  that 
what  we  ask  of  the  Father  in  His  name,  He 
will  do  it,  for  all  power  is  His,  in  heaven  and 
in  earth  (Matt.  28:  18;  John  14:  13;  16:  23). 


141  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


THE    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.       HIS 
NAME,    JESUS. 

The  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  signifies 
His  person,  His  authority,  and  His  work.  Un- 
less He  was  the  Lord,  He  could  not  be  Jesus, 
Saviour.  No  creature  could  have  atoned  for 
the  sin  of  man ;  no  creature  could  have  re- 
deemed Him.  As  Jesus  Christ,  He  is  "The 
same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  forever  "  (Heb. 
13:  8).  His  name,  Jesus,  is  the  Greek  form  of 
the  Hebrew,  Joshua,  which  means  Jehovah 
saves,  or  Saviour.  He  is  spoken  of  as  Jesus  in 
the  Bible  7 1 1  times.  The  name  Jesus  was  given 
to  him  before  his  birth.  Mary  was  told  by 
the  angel  that  she  should  bring  forth  a  Son, 
and  "  Shalt  call  His  name  Jesus.  He  shall  be 
gpreat,  and  shall  be  called  the  Son  of  the 
Highest"  (Luke  i:  31).  To  her  husband, 
Joseph,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  said,  "That  which 
is  conceived  in  her  is  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  And 
she  shall  bring  forth  a  Son,  and  thou  shalt  call 
His  name  Jesus  :  for  He  shall  save  His  people 
from  their  sins"  (Matt,  i:  21).  When  Jesus 
was  born,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  the 
shepherds,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shone 
round  about  them,  and  the  angel  said  unto 
them,  "  Behold,  I  bring  good  tidings  of  great 
joy,  which  shall  be  to  all  people.     For  unto  you 


HIS    NAME,    JESUS.  I45 

is  born  this  day,  in  the  city  of  David,  a  Saviour, 
which  is  Christ  the  Lord"  (Luke  2:  11).  The 
children  of  God  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  believe  in  His  name,  not  only  as  the  Lord, 
but  also  as  Jesus,  their  Saviour.  Not  merely  as 
an  example,  not  as  a  helper,  but  as  their 
Saviour.  Looking  away  from  everything"  else, 
they  look  unto  Jesus  as  "  The  author  and  per- 
fecter  of  their  faith"  (Heb.  12:  i).  They  may 
well  do  this,  "for  there  is  none  other  name 
under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we 
must  be  saved"  (Acts  4:  12).  The  whole  Bible, 
from  the  sacrifice  of  Abel,  in  Genesis,  to  the 
Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the  throne,  reveals  Jesus 
as  the  only  Saviour.  "  Surely  He  hath  borne 
our  griefs,  and  carried  our  sorrows.  *  *  * 
But  he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions.  He 
was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  :  the  chastisement 
of  our  peace  was  upon  Him  ;  and  with  His 
stripes  we  are  healed.  All  we  like  sheep  have 
gone  astray  ;  we  have  turned  every  one  to  his 
own  way ;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid  on  Him  the 
iniquity  of  us  all"  (Isai.  53:  4).  "Christ  also 
suffered  for  us,  *  *  *  who  His  own  self  bare 
our  sins  in  His  own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we, 
being  dead  to  sins,  should  live  unto  righteous- 
ness :  by  whose  stripes  ye  were  healed  "  (i  Peter 
2:  21,  24).  "For  He  hath  made  Him  to  be  sin 
for  us,  who  knew  no  sin  ;  that  we  might  be 
made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  Him  "  (2  Cor. 
5:  21).  The  believer  realizes  that  "Christ,  our 
passover,  is  sacrificed  for  us  '  (i  Cor.  5:7),  and 


I46  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

"after  He  had  offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins 
forever,  sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  God ; 
from  henceforth  expecting,  till  His  enemies  be 
made  His  footstool.  For  by  one  offering  He 
hath  perfected  forever  them  that  are  sancti- 
fied" (Heb.  10:  12):  and,  rejoicing  in  Christ's 
words,  that,  believing  in  Him,  he  has  ever- 
lasting life  (John  3:  31),  and  is  saved,  he  is 
ready  to  take  up  the  song  here,  "  Unto  Him 
that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in 
His  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and 
priests  unto  God  and  His  Father,  to  Him  be 
glory  and  dominion,  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen  " 
(Rev.  1:5). 


HIS   NAME,    CHRIST.  I47 


THE    LORD    JESUS    CHRIST.        HIS 
NAME,   CHRIST. 

To  ACCOMPLISH  the  work  of  saving  men, 
which  the  Lord  undertook,  it  was  necessary 
that  He  should  become,  Jesus  ;  and  also,  Christ. 
The  word  Christ  is  from  the  Greek,  and  corre- 
sponds with  the  word  Messiah  in  the  Hebrew. 
The  meaning  of  it  is,  Anointed.  Christ  is  the 
official  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  We  cannot 
receive  Him,  and  believe  in  Him,  without  be- 
lieving in  Him  as  The  Christ  Anointed  of  God 
with  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  our  Prophet,  our  Priest, 
and  our  King.  In  the  Old  Testament,  those 
appointed  by  God  to  hold  these  offices  were 
anointed,  as  types  of  the  coming  Messiah. 
Isaiah,  writing  of  the  coming  Christ,  and  of  His 
anointing,  says,  **  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God 
is  upon  me  ;  because  Jehovah  hath  anointed  me 
to  preach  good  tidings  unto  the  meek  ;  He  hath 
sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  to  pro- 
claim liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening 
of  the  prison  to  them  that  are  bound  ;  to  pro- 
claim the  acceptable  year  of  Jehovah,  and  the 
day  of  vengeance  of  our  God  ;  to  comfort  all 
that  mourn  ;  to  appoint  unto  them  that  mourn 
in  Zion,  to  give  unto  them  beauty  for  ashes,  the 
oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  the  garment  of  praise 
for  the  spirit  of  heaviness  ;  that  they  might  be 


148  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

called  trees  of  righteousness,  the  planting  of 
Jehovah,  that  He  might  be  glorified"  (Isai.  61: 
i).  At  the  commencement  of  His  ministry, 
Jesus  applied  this  passage  to  Himself,  saying, 
"This  day  is  this  Scripture  fulfilled  in  your 
eyes"  (Luke  4:  21).  •*  God  anointed  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  with  power  : 
who  went  about  doing  good,  and  healing  all 
that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil,  for  God  was 
with  Him"  (Acts  10:  38).  ''And  John  bare 
record,  saying,  I  saw  the  Spirit  descending  from 
heaven  like  a  dove,  and  it  abode  upon  Him, 
and  I  knew  Him  not ;  but  He  that  sent  me  to 
baptize  with  water,  the  same  said  unto  me, 
Upon  whom  thou  shalt  see  the  Spirit  descend- 
ing, and  remaining  on  Him,  the  same  is  He 
which  baptizeth  with  the  Holy  Ghost.  And  I 
saw,  and  bare  record,  that  this  is  the  Son  of 
God.  Again,  the  next  day  after,  John  stood, 
and  two  of  his  disciples  ;  and  looking  upon 
Jesus  as  He  walked,  he  saith.  Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God  I  *  *  *  One  of  the  two  which  heard 
John  speak,  and  followed  him,  was  Andrew, 
Simon  Peter's  brother.  He  first  findeth  his 
own  brother,  Simon,  and  saith  unto  him,  We 
have  found  the  Messias,  which  is,  being  inter- 
preted, the  Christ"  (John  i:  32,  41). 

Faith  in  Him,  as  the  Christ,  is  the  test  ques- 
tion with  every  creed,  and  with  every  individ- 
ual. Jesus  asked  the  Pharisees,  "What  think  ye 
of  Christ  ?  Whose  Son  is  He  ?  He  also  saith 
unto  His  disciples,   But  whom   say  ye  that  I 


HIS    NAME,    CHRIST.  149 

am  ?  And  Simon  Peter  answered  and  said, 
Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God  " 
(Matt.  16:  15).  Our  Lord's  reply  is  applicable 
to  all  believers  in  Him.  "And  Jesus  answered 
and  said  unto  him,  Blessed  art  thou,  Simon 
Barjona  :  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed 
it  unto  thee,  but  my  Father,  which  is  in 
heaven  "  (Matt,  i6:  17).  We  are  elsewhere  told, 
"  Whosoever  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ, 
is  born  of  God"  (i  John  5:  i).  The  Lord  Jesus 
is  to  be  preached  to  men  as,  '*  The  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  living  God."  On  this  rock,  Christ 
said,  I  will  build  my  church,  and  the  gates  of 
hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it.  Paul  says, 
"  For  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  among 
you  save  Jesus  Christ,  and  Him  crucified"  (i 
Cor.  2:  2).  "  For  other  foundation  can  no  man 
lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ." 
Let  every  man  take  heed  how  he  buildeth 
thereupon"  (i  Cor.  3:  10)  Isaiah  foretold  this. 
"Ihus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  I  lay  in 
Zion  for  a  foundation  a  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a 
precious  corner  stone,  a  sure  foundation  :  he 
that  believeth  shall  not  make  haste"  (Isai.  28: 
16).  '*To  whom  coming,  as  unto  a  living 
stone,  disallowed  indeed  of  men,  but  chosen  of 
God,  and  precious,  ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are 
built  up  a  spiritual  house,  an  holy  priesthood, 
to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to 
God  by  Jesus  Christ"  (i  Pet.  2:4). 


150  '      UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


CHRIST,  OUR  ANOINTED  PROPHET. 

The  HISTORY  of  the  Jews,  from  the  call  of 
Abraham,  is  a  pictorial  lesson  which  should  be 
studied.  It  presents  a  continued  series  of 
types.  The  covenant  made  by  God  with  Abra- 
ham and  his  seed,  which  has  continued  nearly 
four  thousand  years,  until  the  present  day;  the 
deliverance  of  the  Jews  from  Egypt;  their 
journey  through  the  wilderness,  under  the 
guidance  of  Moses,  fed  daily  with  bread  from 
heaven;  their  miraculous  deliverances  from 
their  enemies ;  their  being  carried  into  captivity 
to  Babylon ;  and  their  ultimate  dispersion 
through  all  nations  because  of  their  forsaking 
God  ;  their  mode  of  worship,  sacrifices,  priest- 
hood and  temple,  all  were  types;  and  are  object- 
lessons  which  should  be  well  understood.  They 
"  did  all  eat  the  same  spiritual  meat ,  and  did 
all  drink  the  same  spiritual  drink  ;  for  they 
drank  of  that  spiritual  Rock  that  followed 
them:  and  that  Rock  was  Christ"  (i  Cor.  10:  3). 
The  sins  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and  the 
judgements  inflicted  upon  them,  are  recorded 
for  our  admonition.  **  Now  these  things  were 
our  examples,  to  the  intent  we  should  not  lust 
after  evil  things,  as  they  also  lusted.  *  *  *  Now 
all  these  things  happened  unto  them  for  ensam- 
ples:  (Gr.  by  way  of  figure):  and  they  are  written 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTTI)    PROPHtT.  151 

for  our  admonition"  (i  Cor.  lo:  6,  ii).  The 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  promised  seed  of  Abra- 
ham, in  whom  "shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
be  blessed"  (Gen.  22:  18).  "  Now  to  Abraham 
and  his  seed  were  the  promises  made.  He  saith 
not,  and  to  seeds,  as  of  many  ;  but  as  of  one, 
and  to  thy  seed,  which  is  Christ"  (Gal.  3:  16). 
Christ  was  manifested  in  all  their  sacrifices,  and 
in  their  high  priest.  He  was  the  theme  of  their 
prophets,  and  of  their  holy  Scriptures.  Moses 
and  Joshua  were  types  of  Him.  God  sent  Moses 
to  deliver  His  chosen  people  from  Egypt,  to 
teach  them  His  law,  and  to  lead  them  to  the 
promised  land.  When  Moses  was  about  to 
leave  them,  he  told  them,  "  The  Lord  thy  God 
will  raise  up  unto  thee  a  Prophet  from  the 
midst  of  thee,  of  thy  brethren,  like  unto  me  ; 
unto  Him  ye  shall  hearken."  ''The  Lord  said 
unto  me,  *  *  *  I  will  raise  them  up  a  Prophet 
from  among  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and 
will  put  my  words  in  his  mouth;  and  he  shall 
speak  unto  them  all  that  I  shall  command  him. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  whosoever  will 
not  hearken  unto  my  words  which  he  shall 
speak  in  my  name,  I  will  require  it  of  him  " 
(Deut.  18:  15,  18).  The  Prophet  here  spoken  of 
is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  "  Philip  findeth 
Nathaniel,  and  saith  unto  him,  We  have  found 
Him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  proph- 
ets, did  write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  Son  of 
Joseph"  (John  i:  45)- 

Peter,  speaking  of  Christ  as  the  Prophet,  said, 


152  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

"But  those  things  which  God  before  had  showed 
by  the  mouth  of  all  His  prophets,  that  Christ 
should  suffer,  He  hath  so  fulfilled.  Repent  ye, 
therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may 
be  blotted  out,  when  the  times  of  refreshing 
shall  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  And 
He  shall  send  Jesus  Christ,  which  before  was 
preached  unto  you :  whom  the  heaven  must 
receive  until  the  times  of  restitution  of  all 
things,  which  God  hath  spoken  by  the  mouth 
of  all  His  holy  prophets  since  the  world  began. 
For  Moses  truly  said  unto  the  fathers,  A 
prophet  shall  the  Lord  your  God  raise  up  unto 
you,  of  your  brethren,  like  unto  me;  Him  shall 
ye  hear  in  all  things  whatsoever  He  shall  say 
unto  you"  (Acts  3:  18).  From  heaven  God 
said,  "  This  is  my  beloved  Son :  hear  Him " 
(Matt.  17:  5;  Mark  9:  7). 

As  the  Prophet,  Christ  reveals  to  us  the  call 
of  God,  the  word  of  God,  the  law  of  God,  the 
salvation  of  God,  and  even  the  Father  Himself. 
"  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word 
was  with  God:  and  the  Word  was  God.  *  *  * 
And  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
us,  and  we  beheld  His  glory,  the  glory  of  the 
only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
and  truth.  *  *  *  No  man  hath  seen  God  at 
any  time;  the  only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in 
the  bosom  of  the  Father,  He  hath  declared 
Him"  (John  i:  i,  14,  18).  "  No  man  knoweth 
the  Son  but  the  Father;  neither  knoweth  any 
man  the  Father  save  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom- 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    PROPHET.  1 53 

soever  the  Son  will  reveal  Him  "  (Matt.  1 1 :  27). 

The  Jews  were  in  cruel  bondage  in  Egypt 
without  any  power  to  deliver  themselves,  when 
God  sent  Moses  to  effect  their  deliverance.  In 
like  manner,  the  chosen  children  of  God  are 
held  in  slavery  by  the  Devil,  the  god  of  this 
world,  helpless  and  unable  to  free  themselves 
until  Christ  delivers  them. .  The  deliverance  of 
the  Lord's  people  is  the  same  in  all  ages.  Five 
hundred  years  after  Moses,  David  writes,  "  O 
magnify  the  Lord  with  me.  and  let  us  exalt 
His  name  together.  I  sought  the  Lord  and 
He  heard  me,  and  delivered  me  from  all  my 
fears.  They  looked  unto  Him,  and  were  light- 
ened; and  their  faces  were  not  ashamed.  This 
poor  man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard  him,  and 
saved  him  out  of  all  his  troubles.  The  angel  of 
the  Lord  encampeth  round,  about  them  that 
fear  Him,  and  delivereth  them  "  (Psm.  34:  3). 
We  read  of  people  crying  to  Jesus  when  He 
was  on  the  earth,  and  that  He  heard  every  cry, 
and  granted  every  request.  "  God  anointed 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and 
with  power;  who  went  about  doing  good,  and 
healing  all  that  were  oppressed  of  the  devil,  for 
God  was  with  Him"  (Acts  10:  38).  He  con- 
tinues to  be,  "  Jesus  Christ  the  same  yester- 
day, and  to-day,  and  forever"  (Heb.  13:  8). 
"  Whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord  shall  be  saved  "  (Rom.  10:  13). 

As  the  children  of  Israel  took  with  them, 
when  they  left    Egypt,  their    families,   their 


J  54  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

flocks,  and  all  their  substance,  so  are  the  chil- 
dren of  God  required  to  separate  themselves 
from  the  world;  taking  with  them  their  chil 
dren,  and  their  wealth  to  be  consecrated  to 
God.  The  Devil,  the  god  of  this  world,  is  using 
the  same  devices  to  retain  his  hold  on  the  chil- 
dren of  God,  as  Pharaoh  did  to  keep  the  children 
of  Israel  in  Egypt. "  When  Pharaoh  found  that 
he  must  let  them  worship  God,  he  proposed 
that  they  should  remain  in  Egypt  and  worship 
God.  "  Go  ye,  sacrifice  to  your  God  in  the 
land"  (Exod.  8:  25).  The  Devil  suggests,  You 
need  not  give  up  the  world,  you  can  worship 
God  with  the  world.  Moses  said,  "  It  is  not 
meet  so  to  do."  And  Pharaoh  said,  '*  I  will  let 
you  go,  that  ye  may  sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  your 
God,  in  the  wilderness,  only  ye  shall  not  go 
very  faraway"  (Exod.  8:  28).  The  Devil  sug- 
gests. You  need  not  go  so  far,  you  need  not 
separate  yourselves  from  the  people  of  the 
world  in  their  amusements,  their  pleasures  and 
their  pursuits.  You  give  offence  by  being  over- 
religious.  A  good  man  once  said  to  the  writer, 
I  would  like  to  know  the  dividing  line;  how- 
near  a  Christian  can  live  to  the  world,  and  yet 
be  a  Christian  ?  This  he  said,  not  that  he 
wanted  to  be  worldly,  .but  that  he  would  like  to 
avoid  giving  offence  to  the  worldly.  A  story 
is  told  of  a  man  who  wanted  a  coachman.  He 
asked  an  applicant  for  the  situation,  How 
near  can  you  drive  to  a  precipice  without 
going  over  it.     I  can  drive  within  two  feet  of  it. 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    PROPHET.  155 

replied  the  man.  He  put  the  same  question  to 
another.  He  replied,  I  can  drive  within  one 
foot.  He  put  the  same  question  to  the  next; 
How  near  can  you  drive  to  a  precipice  without 
danger  of  going-  over  it  ?  The  man  replied, 
How  near  ?  Sure,  I  would  keep  as  far  away 
from  it  as  I  could.     He  got  the  place. 

Again,  Pharaoh  was  compelled  to  send  for 
Moses  and  Aaron;  "And  he  said  unto  them,  Co, 
serve  the  Lord,  your  God;  but  who  are  they  that 
shall  go  ?  And  Moses  said.  We  will  go  with  our 
young  and  with  our  old,  with  our  sons  and  with 
our  daughters,  with  our  flocks  and  with  our 
herds  will  we  go;  for  we  must  hold  a  feast  unto 
the  Lord.  And  he  said  unto  them.  Let  the 
Lord  be  so  with  you,  as  I  will  let  you  go,  and 
your  little  ones:  look  to  it,  for  evil  is  before 
you.  Not  so:  go  now,  ye  that  are  men,  and 
serve  the  Lord;  for  that  ye  did  desire  "  (Exod. 
10:  8).  The  Devil  makes  the  same  suggestion 
to  many  who  unite  themselves  with  the  people 
of  God,  by  joining  a  church,  and  succeeds  in 
holding  them  in  slavery.  They  go  a  little  way 
from  Egypt,  and  leave  their  children  in  it. 
The  children  must  keep  up  their  social  stand- 
ing; they  must  have  amusements,  and  enjoy 
themselves;  they  must  mingle,  with  the  world; 
we  must  shut  our  eyes  in  regard  to  their  com- 
panions and  the  kinds  of  the  amusements. 
They  do  this  even  when  they  know  they  are 
demoralizing.  They  must  be  educated;  and 
they  are  sent  to  Catholic  schools,  where 


"i-^: 


156  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

are  sure  to  become  the  followers  of  Antichrist; 
and  to  infidel  colleges  and  infidel  theological 
seminaries,  where  they  will  be  likely  to  gradu- 
ate doubters,  or  infidels.  Many  children  fail  of 
being  saved  and  are  lost,  in  consequence  of  the 
unfaithfulness  of  their  parents,  who  have  been 
false  to  the  vows  they  made  when  joining  the 
Church.  Again,  when  forced  to  let  the  people 
go,  Pharaoh  made  another  offer,  and  said,  "  Go 
ye,  serve  the  Lord;  only  let  your  flocks  and 
your  herds  be  stayed."  *  *  *  "And  Moses  said, 
Our  cattle  also  shall  go  with  us;  there  shall 
not  an  hoof  be  left  behind.  For  thereof  must 
we  take  to  serve  the  Lord  our  God  "  (Exod.  10: 
24).  Many,  who  think  they  are  Christians, 
l3ave  '*  their  flocks  in  Egypt,"  their  possessions 
in  the  world.  The  result  is,  where  their  treas- 
ure is  their  heart  is  also.  Christ  says,  "  Whoso- 
ever he  be  of  you  that  forsaketh  not. all  that  he 
hath,  he  cannot  be  my  disciple  "  (Luke  14:  33). 
You  must  not  only  bring  yourselves  and  your 
flocks  out  of  Egypt,  but  you  must  hold  them  at 
the  disposal  of  the  Lord,  or  you  cannot  be  His 
disciples. 

When  Christ  was  on  the  earth,  every  follower 
of  Him  had  to  forsake  father  and  mother, 
property,  and  often  give  up  life  itself.  And  it 
has  been  so  ever  smce,  in  all  ages,  and  in  all 
countries,  and  especially  so  in  the  countries 
controlled  by  the  Romish  and  Greek  churches: 
and  it  is  so  now  everywhere,  excepting  in  the 
few  places  where  the  open  Bible  and  the  Spirit 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    PROPHET.  1 57 

of  God  have  made  a  change.  Lot  chose  Sodom 
as  a  residence.  The  consequence  was  that  he 
lost  every  thing,  even  his  influence  as  a  religious 
man.  And  he  would  have  perished  with  Sodom 
if  God  had  not  sent  two  angels  to  save  him. 
"And  delivered  just  Lot,  vexed  with  the  filthy- 
conversation  of  the  wicked;  for  that  righteous 
man  dwelling  among  them,  in  seeing  and  hear- 
ing, vexed  his  righteous  soul  from  day  to  day 
with  their  unlawful  deeds  "  (2  Pet.  2:7).  "By 
faith  Moses,  when  he  was  come  to  years,  re- 
fused to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter; 
choosing  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the 
people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of 
sin  for  a  season;  esteeming  the  reproach  of 
Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  in 
Egypt:  for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense 
of  the  reward"  (Heb.  11:  24).  "Wherefore 
come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate, 
saith  the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean 
thing;  and  I  will  receive  you,  and  will  be  a 
Father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  be  my  sons  and 
daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty"  (2  Cor. 
6:   17). 

Believer,  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the 
anointed  Prophet  of  God.  Hear  Him;  obey 
Him;  follow  Him;  commit  yourself  entirely  to 
Him.  Believing  in  Him,  you  will  also  be 
anointed  with  the  Holy  Spirit.  "  For  all  the 
promises  of  God  in  Him  are  yea,  and  in  Him, 
Amen,  unto  the  glory  of  God  by  us.  Now,  He 
which  stablisheth  us  with  you  in  Christ,  and 


158  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

hath  anointed  us,  is  God;  who  hath  also  sealed 
us,  and  given  the  earnest  of  the  Spirit  in  our 
hearts"  (2  Cor.  i:  20).  "That  we  should  be  to 
the  praise  of  His  glory,  who  first  trusted  in 
Christ.  In  whom  ye  also  trusted,  after  that  ye 
heard  the  word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your 
salvation:  in  whom  also  after  that  ye  believed, 
ye  were  sealed  with  that  holy  Spirit  of  promise  " 
(Eph.  i:  12).  "Grieve  not  the  holy  Spirit  of 
God,  whereby  ye  are  sealed  "  (Eph.  4:  30). 

Christ  says,  "If  ye  love  me,  keep  my  com- 
mandments. And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and 
He  shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that  He 
may  abide  with  you  forever;  even  the  Spirit  of 
truth;  *  *  *  for  He  dwelleth  with  you  and 
shall  be  in  you.  *  *  *  If  a  man  love  me,  he  will 
keep  my  words:  and  my  Father  will  love  him, 
and  we  will  come  unto  Him,  and  make  our 
abode  with  him"  (John  14:  15,  17,  23). 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOlNrKl)    PRIEST.  1 59 


CHRIST,  OUR  ANOINTED  PRIEST. 

The  High  Priest  and  the  priests  of  the  Old 
Testament  were  types  of  Christ  and  of  those 
who  believe  in  Christ.     All  believers  are  now 
priests.     The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  now  and  for- 
evermore    the    High    Priest.     Individual    be- 
lievers in   Him    are  the   only  priests  in    His 
church  now.     No  others  are  spoken  of  in  the 
New  Testament.     They  who  claim  to  be  suc- 
cessors of  the  Apostles,  to  be  the  "  Historical 
Episcopate,"  and  to  be  priests,  with  exclusive 
powers,  have  no  foundation  for  their  claims  in 
the  Scriptures,  and  should  be  treated  accord- 
ingly.    Peter  writing,  "  To  the  strangers  scat- 
tered   through    Pontus,   Galatia,    Cappadocia, 
Asia  and  Bithynia,  elect  according  to  the  fore- 
knowledge of  God,  through  sanctification  of  the 
Spirit,   unto  obedience  and  sprinkling  of  the 
blood  of  Christ  "(i   Peter   i:  i);    tells  them, 
"  Ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are  built  up  a  spirit- 
ual  house,   an    holy    priesthood,   to    offer    up 
spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God  by  Jesus 
Christ"  (i  Pet.  2:  5).    "Ye  are  a  chosen  genera- 
tion, a  loyal    priesthood,    an    holy  nation,   a 
peculiar  people,  that  ye  should  shew  forth  the 
praises  of  Him  who  hath  called  you  out  of  dark- 
ness into  His  marvellous  light"  (i   Pet.  2:9). 
In    heaven    part    of    the    praise    is,    "Unto 


l6o  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  His  own  blood,  and  hath  made 
us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  His  Father; 
to  Him  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and 
ever.  Amen"  (Rev.  i:  5)  "  For  thou  wast 
slain,  and  hast  redeemed  us  to  God  by  Thy 
blood  out  of  every  kindred,  and  tongue,  and 
nation;  and  hast  made  us  unto  God,  kings 
and  priests"  (Rev.  5:  9;  20:  6).  Through 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  every  believer  has 
access  to  the  Father;  and  whatsoever  he 
asks  in  His  name,  it  shall  be  done.  The  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Lamb  of  God,  slain  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  the  only  sacrifice  for 
sin,  is  the  only  High  Priest,  now  and  forever. 
"The  Lord  sware  and  will  not  repent.  Thou 
art  a  priest  forever  after  the  order  of  Melchi- 
sedec.  By  so  much  was  Jesus  made  a  surety  of  a 
better  testament.  And  they  truly  were  many 
priests,  because  they  were  not  suffered  to  con- 
tinue by  reason  of  death:  but  He,  because  He 
abideth  forever,  hath  His  priesthood  un- 
changeable. Wherefore  also  He  is  able  to  save 
to  the  uttermost  them  that  draw  near  unto  God 
through  Him,  seeing  He  ever  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  them"  (Heb.  7:  21;  Rom.  8:34). 
He  is  now  the  only  Mediator  between  God  and 
man.  "  For  there  is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator 
between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus" 
(i  Tim.  2:  5).  He  is  our  only  Advocate  with 
the  Father;  "  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advo- 
cate with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  right- 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    PRIEST.  l6l 

eous"  (i  John  2:  i).  Jesus  says,  "Come  unto 
me,  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy-laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest "  (Matt.  11:  28).  "Seeing 
then  that  we  have  a  great  High  Priest,  that  is 
passed  into  the  heavens,  Jesus  the  Son  of  God, 
let  us  hold  fast  our  profession.  For  we  have 
not  a  High  Priest  which  cannot  be  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities;  but  was  in 
all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without 
sin.  Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the 
throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy,  and 
find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need"  (Heb.  4: 

■4). 

The  children  of  God  need  to  be  warned 
against  the  false  priests,  who  pretend  to  repeat 
the  sacrifice  of  Christ  by  turning  a  wafer  into 
His  body  and  blood,  and  then  adoring  it;  a 
mixture  of  blasphemy  and  an  idolatry,  and  an 
utter  perversion  of  Scripture.  Again  and  again 
we  are  told  that  He  offered  Himself  once  only 
for  the  sins  of  His  people;  and  that  by  that  one 
offering  He  hath  perfected  for  ever  them  that 
are  sanctified.  "  For  such  a  High  Priest  be- 
came us,  who  is  holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  sepa- 
rate from  sinners,  and  made  higher  than  the 
heavens;  who  needeth  not  daily,  as  those  high 
priests,  to  offer  up  sacrifice,  first  for  His  own 
sins,  and  then  for  the  people's:  for  this  He  did 
once,  when  He  offered  up  Himself"  (Heb.  7: 
26).  "  For  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the  holy 
places  made  with  hands,  which  are  the  figures 
of  the  true;  but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  ap- 


l62  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

pear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  lis:  nor  yet  that 
He  should  offer  Himself  often,  as  the  High 
Priest  entereth  in  the  holy  place  every  year 
with  the  blood  of  others;  for  then  must  He  often 
have  suffered  since  the  foundation  of  the  world: 
but  now  once  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath  He 
appeared  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
Himself.  And  as  it  is  appointed  unto  men  once 
to  die,  but  after  this  the  judgment:  so  Christ 
was  once  offered  to  bear  the  sins  of  many;  and 
unto  them  that  look  for  Him  shall  He  appear 
the  second  time  unto  salvation"  (Heb.  9:  24). 
"  We  are  sanctified  through  the  offering  of  the 
body  of  Jesus  Christ  once  for  all.  And  every 
priest  standeth  daily  ministering  and  offering 
oftentimes  the  same  sacrifices,  which  can  never 
take  away  sins;  but  this  man,  after  He  had 
offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins  forever,  sat  down 
on  the  right  hand  of  God;  from  henceforth  ex- 
pecting till  His  enemies  be  made  His  footstool. 
For  by  one  offering  He  hath  perfected  forever 
them  that  are  sanctified  "  (Heb.  10:  10).  Believ- 
ers in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  are  warned  against 
the  false  teachers  and  the  false  priests  who 
teach  otherwise,  and  make  merchandise  of  the 
"souls  of  men"  (Rev.  18:  13).  "  For  the  time 
will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  sound 
doctrine;  but  after  their  own  lusts  shall  they 
heap  to  themselves  teachers,  having  itching 
ears;  and  they  shall  turn  away  their  ears  from 
the  truth,  and  shall  be  turned  unto  fables  "  (2 
Tim.  4:  3).     "  But  there  were  also  false  proph- 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    PRIEST.  163 

ets  also  among  the  people,  even  as  there  shall 
be  false  teachers  among  you,  who  privily  shall 
bring  in  damnable  heresies,  even  denying  the 
Lord  that  bought  them,  and  bring  upon  them- 
selves swift  destruction.  And  many  shall  fol- 
low their  pernicious  ways;  by  reason  of  whom 
the  way  of  truth  shall  be  evil  spoken  of.  And 
through  covetousness  shall  they  with  feigned 
words  make  merchandise  of  you:  whose  judg- 
ment now  of  a  long  time  lingereth  not,  and 
their  damnation  slumbereth  not"  (2  Pet.  2:  i). 
*'  By  one  offering  He  hath  perfected  forever 
them  that  are  sanctified."  Their  sins  are  for- 
given, and  they  have  now  an  everlasting  life. 
John  3:  36;  5:  24;  I  John  5:  13.  Because  they 
are  saved,  Paul  urges  believers,  as  priests,  to 
offer  themselves  as  a  sacrifice.  *'  I  beseech  you, 
therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  that 
ye  present  your  bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy, 
acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  your  reasonable 
service.  (R.  V.,  spiritual  worship.)  And  be 
not  conformed  to  this  world:  but  be  ye  trans- 
formed by  the  renewing  of  your  mind,  that  ye 
may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable, 
and  perfect  will  of  God"  (Rom.  12:  i). 


164  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


UNION   OF  BELIEVERS   WITH    CHRIST 

IN    HIS    DEATH,    BURIAL    AND 

RESURRECTION. 

The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  not  only  our  High 
Priest,  but  was  Himself  the  sacrifice — the  Lamb 
slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.  Rev. 
13:  8.  "For  Christ  also  hath  once  suffered  for 
sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  He  might 
bring  us  to  God"  (i  Pet.  3:  18).  "Who  His 
own  self  bare  our  sins  in  His  own  body  on  the 
tree,  that  we  being  dead  to  sins,  should  live 
unto  righteousness:  by  whose  stripes  ye  were 
healed"  (i  Pet.  2:  24).  " Christ  hath  redeemed 
us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a 
curse  for  us"  (Gal.  3:  13).  "Christ  our  Pass- 
over is  sacrificed  for  us"  (i  Cor.  5:  7).  "He 
hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our  sorrows  " 
(Isai.  53:4)).  "  He  was  wounded  for  our  trans- 
gressions. He  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities : 
the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  Him  ; 
and  with  His  stripes  we  are  healed  "  (Isai.  53: 
5).  That  Christ  is  here  spoken  of,  we  see  in 
Matt.  8:  16.  "When  the  even  was  come,  they 
brought  unto  Him  many  that  were  possessed 
with  devils  :  and  He  cast  out  the  spirits  with 
His  word,  and  healed  all  that  were  sick  :  that  it 
might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  by  Esaias 


IN   HIS  DEATH,  BURIAL   AND  RESURRECTION.     1 65 

the  prophet,  saying,  Himself  took  our  infirm- 
ities, and  bare  our  sicknesses."  Jesus  applies 
to  Himself  the  office  of  Christ  as  spoken  of 
Isaiah  6i:  1-3.  "And  there  was  delivered  unto 
him  the  book  of  the  prophet  Esaias.  And 
when  he  opened  the  book,  he  found  the  place 
where  it  was  written,  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is 
upon  me,  because  He  hath  anointed  me  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor;  He  hath  sent  me 
to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to  preach  deliver- 
ance to  the  captives,  and  recovering  of  sight  to 
the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised, 
to  preach  the  accepted  year  of  the  Lord.  And 
he  closed  the  book,  and  he  gave  it  again  to  the 
minister,  and  sat  down.  And  the  eyes  of  all 
them  that  were  in  the  synagogue  were  fastened 
on  him.  And  he  began  to  say  unto  them,  This 
day  is  this  Scripture  fulfilled  in  your  ears" 
(Luke  4:  17).  "  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling 
the  world  unto  Himself,  not  imputing  their 
trespasses  unto  them.  *  *  *  For  He  hath 
made  Him  to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin; 
that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of 
God  in  Him"  (2  Cor.  5:  19,  21). 

The  Scriptures  foretold  that  Christ  would 
come,  and  would  suffer  and  die  in  our  stead  for 
our  sins.  "  Christ  died  for  us  according  to  the 
Scriptures"  (i  Cor.  15:  3).  It  was  for  this  pur- 
pose that  He  left  the  throne  of  God  and  came 
into  the  world.  "  Christ  Jesus,  who  being  in 
the  form  of  God,  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be 
equal  with  God:  but  made  Himself  of  no  repu- 


1 66  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

tation,  and  took  upon  Him  the  form  of  a  ser- 
vant, and  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  men:  and 
being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  He  humbled 
Himself,  and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  cross"  (Phil.  2:  6).  "The  Son 
of  man  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to 
minister,  and  to  give  His  life  a  ransom  for 
many  "  (Matt.  20:  28).  The  world  and  all  things 
were  created  for  His  coming.  Creation  and 
Redemption  were  to  display  "  The  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ;  and  to  make  all  see  what  is  the 
fellowship  of  the  mystery,  which  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  hath  been  hid  in  God, 
who  created  all  things  by  Jesus  Christ:  to  the 
intent  that  now  unto  the  principalities  and 
powers  in  heavenly  places  might  be  known  by 
the  church  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God,  accord- 
ing to  the  eternal  purpose  which  He  purposed 
in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord "  (Eph.  3 :  8).  "  Blessed 
be  the  God  and  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
who  hath  blessed  us  with  all  spiritual  blessings 
in  heavenly  places  in  Christ:  according,  as  He 
hath  chosen  us  in  Him  before  the  foundation 
of  the  world"  (Eph.  i:  3).  ''Forasmuch  as  ye 
know  that  ye  were  not  redeemed  with  corrupt- 
ible things,  as  silver  and  gold,  *  *  *  but  with 
the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  with- 
out blemish  and  without  spot:  who  verily  was 
foreordained  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world"  (i  Pet.  i:  18). 

Christ  offered  Himself  as  a  willing  sacrifice. 
Paul   writes,   "This  is   a  faithful  saying,   and 


IN  HIS  DEATH,  BURIAL  AND  RESURRECTION.    167 

worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners;  of  whom  I  am 
chief  "  (i  Tim.  i :  15).  Jesus  says,  "  The  Son  of 
man  is  come  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was 
lost"  (Luke  19:  10).  He  foretold  to  His  disci- 
ples the  manner  of  His  death.  "Jesus  said 
unto  them,  The  Son  of  man  shall  be  betrayed 
into  the  hands  of  men:  aud  they  shall  kill  Him, 
and  the  third  day  He  shall  be  raised  again " 
(Matt.  17:  22).  "Behold,  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem; 
and  the  Son  of  man  shall  be  betrayed  unto  the 
chief  priests  and  unto  the  scribes,  and  they  shall 
condemn  Him  to  death,  and  shall  deliver  Him 
to  the  Gentiles  to  mock,  and  to  scourge,  and  to 
crucify  Him:  and  the  third  day  He  shall  rise 
again"  (Matt.  20:  18).  It  is  related,  that  when 
Judas  came  with  a  band  of  men  and  officers 
from  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees  to  take 
Him,  "  Jesus  therefore,  knowing  all  things  that 
should  come  upon  Him,  went  forth,  and  said 
unto  them,  Whom  seek  ye  ?  They  answered 
Him,  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  Jesus  saith  unto  them, 
I  am  He  "  (John  18:  4).  He  was  a  willing  sacri- 
fice, the  Lamb  of  God,  of  which  all  the  other 
sacrifices  were  types,  "  For  it  is  not  possible 
that  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats  should  take 
away  sins.  Wherefore,  when  He  cometh  into 
the  world.  He  saith.  Sacrifice  and  offering  thou 
wouldest  not,  but  a  body  hast  thou  prepared 
me:  in  burnt  offerings  and  sacrifices  for  sin 
thou  hast  had  no  pleasure.  Then  said  I,  Lo,  I 
come  (in  the  volume  of  the  book  it  is  written  of 


l68  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

me)  to  do  Thy  will,  O  God.  Above  when  He 
said,  Sacrifice  and  offering  and  burnt  offering 
for  sin  thou  wouldest  not,  neither  hadst  pleas- 
ure therein;  which  are  offered  by  the  law;  then 
said  He,  Lo,  I  come  to  do  Thy  will,  O  God.  He 
taketh  away  the  first,  that  He  may  establish  the 
second.  By  the  which  will  we  are  sanctified 
through  the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ 
once  for  all  "  (Heb.  lo.  4,  12). 

Through  this  sacrifice  of  Christ,  believers  are 
counted  as  having  made  full  atonement  for 
their  sins,  and  are  justified  in  the  eye  of  the  law 
of  God.  They  are  also  accounted  as  righteous 
in  the  sight  of  God,  Christ  having  fulfilled  the 
law  for  them.  In  the  Revelation  we  read, 
"After  this  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  a  great  multitude, 
which  no  man  could  number,  of  all  nations,  and 
kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues,  stood  before 
the  throne,  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with 
white  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands;  and  cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  saying.  Salvation  to  our  God, 
which  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the 
Lamb  "  (Rev.  7:  9).  In  answer  to  the  question. 
What  are  these  which  are  arrayed  in  white 
robes  ?  "  He  said  unto  me.  These  are  they 
which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have 
washed  their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb  "  (Rev.  7:  13).  The  be- 
liever is  not  only  counted  as  righteous,  and 
clothed  with  Christ's  righteousness,  but  he  also 
receives  the  gift  of  righteousness:  he  receives 
the  spirit  of  love  to  God,  because  he  is  holy  and 


IN   HIS  DEATH,  BURIAL   AND  RESURRECTION.     169 

just,  as  well  as  because  he  is  merciful  and  lov- 
ing. And  the  believer  is  sanctified,  and  made 
righteous  by  the  Holy  Spirit  working  in  him 
through  the  word;  according  to  the  prayer  of 
Christ,  "Sanctify  them  through  Thy  truth:  Thy 
word  is  truth"  (John  17:  17)  Paul,  speaking 
of  the  sacrifices  in  the  Old  Testament,  says, 
"  For  if  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the 
ashes  of  an  heifer,  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanc- 
tifieth  to  the  purifying  of  the  flesh:  how  much 
more  shall  the  blood  of  Christ,  who  through  the 
eternal  Spirit  offered  Himself  without  spot  to 
God,  purge  your  conscience  from  dead  works 
to  serve  the  living  God"  (Heb.  9:  13). 

The  union  of  believers  with  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  His  sufferings,  His  crucifixion.  His 
death.  His  burial,  His  resurrection.  His  ascen- 
sion into  heaven,  and  with  Him  seated  on  His 
throne,  and  as  partakers  of  His  glory,  is  ex- 
pressly stated  in  the  Scriptures.  It  is  realized 
in  their  Christian  experience:  and  it  is  the  great 
motive  for  holy  living  and  good  works.  We  are 
told,  "  How  shall  we,  that  are  dead  to  sin,  live 
any  longer  therein  ?  Know  ye  not,  that  so 
many  of  us  as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ 
were  baptized  into  His  death  ?  Therefore  we 
are  buried  with  Him  by  baptism  into  death: 
that  like  as  Christ  was  raised  up  from  the  dead 
by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also 
should  walk  in  newness  of  life.  For  if  we  have 
been  planted  together  in  the  likeness  of  His 
death,  we   shall   be  also  in  the  likeness   of    His 


17©  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

resurrection:  knowing  this,  that  our  old  man  is 
crucified  with  Him,  that  the  body  of  sin  might 
be  destroyed,  that  henceforth  we  should  not 
serve  sin.  For  he  that  is  dead  is  freed  from 
sin.  Now  if  we  be  dead  with  Christ,  we  believe 
that  we  shall  also  live  with  Him  "  (Rom.  6:  2-8). 
Paul  says,  "  For  I  through  the  law  am  dead  to 
the  law,  that  I  might  live  unto  God.  I  am 
crucified  with  Christ:  nevertheless  I  live;  yet 
not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me"  (Gal.  2:  19). 
"  Wherefore  if  ye  be  dead  with  Christ  from  the 
rudiments  of  the  world,  why,  as  though  living 
in  the  world,  are  ye  subject  to  ordinances, 
(touch  not;  taste  not;  handle  not;  which  all  are 
to  perish  with  the  using;)  after  the  command- 
ments and  doctrines  of  men ?"  (Col.  2:  20).  "If 
ye  then  be  risen  with  Christ,  seek  those  things 
which  are  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  on  the 
right  hand  of  God.  Set  your  affection  on  things 
above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth.  For  ye  are 
dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God. 
When  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  appear,  then 
shall  ye  also  appear  with  Him  in  glory"  (Col. 
3:1).  "  But  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy;  for  His 
great  love  wherewith  He  loved  us,  even  when 
we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened  us  to- 
gether with  Christ,  (by  grace  ye  are  saved ;)  and 
hath  raised  us  up  together,  and  made  us  sit 
together  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus " 
(Eph.  2:  4).  **  Who  died  for  us,  that  whether  we 
wake  or  sleep,  we  should  live  together  with 
Him.    Wherefore  comfort  yourselves  together 


IN   HIS  DEATH,  BURIAL  AND  RESURRECTION.     I7I 

and  edify  one  another,  even  as  also  ye  do"  (i 
Thess.  5:  10).  "Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  His  own  blood,  and 
hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and 
His  Father;  to  Him  be  glory  and  dominion  for 
ever  and  ever.     Amen  "  (Rev.  1.5). 


Tja  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


CHRIST,  OUR  ANOINTED  KING. 

Anointing  was  a  common  practice  among  the 
Jews.  It  was  specially  used  on  things  and  per- 
sons consecrated  to  the  service  of  God.  Kings, 
High  Priests,  and  sometimes  prophets,  were 
anointed.  The  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  was 
filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  was  thereby  conse- 
crated as  the  Messiah;  as  prophet,  priest,  and 
king.  "  For  He  whom  God  hath  sent,  speaketh 
the  words  of  God;  for  Godgiveth  not  the  Spirit 
by  measure  unto  Him  "  (John  3:  34). 

From  the  beginning  of  the  world  a  great  De- 
liverer was  expected.  In  the  garden  of  Eden, 
after  the  Fall  of  Eve  and  Adam,  Jehovah  God, 
in  putting  a  curse  on  the  serpent,  added,  "And 
I  will  put  enmity  bistween  thee  and  the  woman, 
and  between  thy  seed  and  her  seed;  it  shall 
bruise  thy  head,  and  thou  shalt  bruise  his  heel  " 
(Gen.  3:  15). 

From  that  time  there  were  two  distinct  races 
on  the  earth ;  the  children  of  God  and  the  chil- 
dren of  the  Devil.  Jesus  told  the  Jews  who  did 
not  believe  in  Him,  "  Ye  do  the  deeds  of  your 
father,  *  *  *  ye  are  of  your  father,  the  devil " 
(John  8:  41,  44).  In  the  parable  of  the  sower, 
Jesus  says,  "He  that  soweth  the  good  seed  is 
the  son  of  man;  the  field  is  the  world;  the  good 
seed  are  the  children  of  the  kingdom;  but  the 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    KING.  I  73 

tares  are  the  children  of  the  wicked  one;  the 
enemy  that  sowed  them  is  the  devil  "  (Matt.  13: 
37;  Acts  13:  10;  I  John  3:  8,  10,  12). 

When  Jehovah  called  Abram  to  leave  his 
country  and  kindred,  He  said  unto  him,  "  I  will 
make  of  thee  a  great  nation  *  *  *  and  thou 
shalt  be  a  blessing  *  *  *  and  in  thee  shall  all 
families  of  the  earth  be  blessed  "  (Gen.  12:  i,  3). 
Again  and  again  was  this  promise  repeated. 
"All  the  nations  of  the  earth  shall  be  blessed 
in  him  "(Gen.  18:  18).  "In  thy  seed  shall  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed"  (Gen.  22: 
18;  21:4;  28:  14).  This  promise,  the  Scriptures 
say,  refers  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  "  Ye  are 
the  children  of  the  prophets  and  of  the  cove- 
nant which  God  made  with  our  fathers,  saying 
unto  Abraham,  And  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the 
kindreds  of  the  earth  be  blessed.  Unto  you 
first  God,  having  raised  up  His  Son  Jesus,  sent 
Him  to  bless  you,  in  turning  away  every  one  of 
you  from  his  iniquities"  (Acts  3:  25). 

"  Now,  to  Abraham  and  his  seed  were  the 
promises  made.  He  saith  not,  And  to  seeds,  as 
of  many;  but  as  one.  And  to  thy  seed,  which  is 
Christ"  (Gal.  3:  16).  Nathan  was  sent  to 
David  with  the  message,  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah, 
*  *  *  I  will  set  up  thy  seed  after  thee,  *  *  * 
and  I  will  stablish  the  throne  of  his  kingdom 
forever,  *  *  *  "  (2  Sam.  7:  13).  The  Scripture 
shows  that  this  promise  referred  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  It  was  so  understood  by  David, 
and  he  wrote  accordingly,  in  a  number  of  the 


174  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Psalms,  especially  in  the  2nd,  72nd,  and  iioth. 
It  was  well  understood  that  the  Messiah,  the 
Christ,  was  to  be  of  the  seed  of  David,  and 
that  he  was  the  King.  The  disciples,  when 
threatened  by  the  chief  priests  and  elders,  used 
the  very  words  of  the  2nd  Psalm,  written  a 
thousand  years  before  Christ  was  born,  as  part 
of  their  prayer  to  God,  and  as  a  promise  of 
Christ.  "  They  lifted  up  their  voice  to  God 
with  one  accord,  and  said.  Lord,  Thou  art  God, 
which  hast  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and  the 
sea,  and  all  that  in  them  is:  who  by  the  mouth 
of  thy  servant  David,  hast  said.  Why  did  the 
heathen  rage,  and  the  people  imagine  vain 
things  ?  The  kings  of  the  earth  stood  up,  and 
the  rulers  were  gathered  together  against  the 
Lord,  and  against  His  Christ.  For  of  a  truth 
against  thy  holy  child  Jesus,  whom  Thou  hast 
anointed,  both  Herod  and  Pontius  Pilate,  with 
the  Gentiles,  and  the  people  of  Israel,  were 
gathered  together  for  to  do  whatsoever  Thy 
hand  and  Thy  counsel  determined  before  to  be 
done"  (Acts  4:  26). 

In  the  72nd  Psalm  it  is  written,  "All  kings 
shall  fall  down  before  Him:  all  nations  shall 
serve  Him.  For  He  shall  deliver  the  needy 
when  he  crieth;  the  poor  also,  and  him  that 
hath  no  helper.  He  shall  spare  the  poor  and 
needy,  and  save  the  souls  of  the  needy."  "  His 
name  shall  endure  for  ever;  His  name  shall  be 
continued  as  long  as  the  sun:  and  men  shall  be 
jblessed  in   Him:    all  nations  shall  call    Him 


CHRIST,  OUR    ANOINTED    KING.  I  75 

blessed."  In  the  iioth  Psalm,  David  speaks  of 
the  kingdom,  the  priesthood,  the  conquest,  and 
the  passion  of  Christ.  It  commences  with, 
"Jehovah  said  unto  my  Lord,  sit  Thou  at  my 
right  hand,  until  I  make  Thine  enemies  Thy 
footstool."  Jesus  applied  this  Psalm  to  Him- 
self. "  While  the  Pharisees  were  gathered  to- 
gether, Jesus  asked  them,  What  think  ye  of 
Christ  ?  Whose  Son  is  He  ?  They  say  unto 
Him,  the  Son  of  David.  He  saith  unto  them, 
How  then  doth  David  in  spirit  call  Him  Lord, 
saying,  The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit  Thou 
on  my  right  hand  till  I  make  Thine  enemies 
Thy  footstool  ?  If  David  then  call  Him  Lord, 
how  is  He  his  son  ?  And  no  man  was  able  to 
answer  Him  a  word  "  (Matt.  22:  41). 

The  expectation  of  the  coming  of  the  great 
Messiah  king  was  general  in  the  world  when 
Christ  was  born.  The  angel  Gabriel  told  the 
virgin  Mary,  speaking  of  the  child,  "  He  shall 
be  great,  and  shall  be  called  the  Son  of  the 
Highest:  and  the  Lord  God  shall  give  unto  Him 
the  throne  of  His  father,  David:  and  He  shall 
reign  over  the  house  of  Jacob  for  ever;  and  of 
His  kingdom  there  shall  be  no  end"  (Luke 
i:  32).  Pious  Jews  were  praying  for,  and  look- 
ing for  His  coming.  We  have  the  account  of 
Simeon,  "  waiting  for  the  consolation  of  Israel," 
and  of  Anna,  "  which  departed  not  from  the 
temple,  but  served  God  with  fastings  and 
prayers  night  and  day.  And  she  coming  in 
that  instant  gave  thanks   likewise    unto    the 


176  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Lord,  and  spoke  of  Him  to  all  them  that 
looked  for  redemption  in  Jerusalem  "  (Luke  :2 
25,  37).  Angels  announced  His  birth,  ^'Behold, 
I  bring  you  good  tidings  of  great  joy,  which 
shall  be  to  all  people.  For  unto  you  is  born 
this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a  Saviour,  which 
is  Christ  the  Lord"  (Luke  2:  10).  "There 
came  wise  men  from  the  east  to  Jerusalem, 
saying.  Where  is  He  that  is  born  King  of  the 
Jews  ?  for  we  have  seen  His  star  in  the  east  and 
are  come  to  worship  Him  "  (Matt.  2:1).  King 
Herod  was  troubled,  and  demanded  of  the 
chief  priests  and  scribes,  where  Christ  should 
be  born?  "And  they  said  unto  him,  in  Bethlehem 
of  Judea:  for  thus  it  is  written  by  the  prophet. 
And  thou,  Bethlehem,  in  the  land  of  Juda,  art 
not  the  least  among  the  princes  of  Juda:  for  out 
of  thee  shall  come  a  Governor,  that  shall  rule 
my  people  Israel  "  (Matt.  2:  3).  The  woman  of 
Samaria,  who  was  living  a  life  of  sin,  said,  *'  I 
know  that  Messias  cometh,  which  is  called 
Christ:  when  He  is  come,  He  will  tell  us  all 
things  "  (John  4:  25).  "  For  thus  saith  Jehovah 
of  hosts,  ♦  *  *  I  will  shake  all  nations,  and  the 
desire  of  all  nations  shall  come  "  (Haggai  2:7). 
Jesus,  in  many  of  His  parables,  illustrated 
His  kingdom.  He  told  Pilate  the  nature  of  His 
kingdom.  "  Pilate  said  unto  Him,  Art  Thou 
the  King  of  the  Jews  ?  *  *  *  Jesus  answered, 
My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world,  then  would 
my  servants  fight  that  I  should  not  be  delivered 
to  the  Jews:  but  now  is  my  kingdom  not  from 


CHRIST,  OUR    ANOINTED    KING.  177 

hence.  Pilate,  therefore,  said  unto  Him,  Art 
Thou  a  king  then  ?  Jesus  answered,  Thou  say- 
est  that  I  am  a  king.  To  this  end  was  I  born, 
and  for  this  cause  came  I  into  the  world " 
(John  18:  33).  When  He  was  about  to  ascend 
into  heaven  He  told  His  disciples,  "All  power 
is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Go 
ye  therefore  and  disciple  all  nations,  baptizing 
them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  teaching  them  to 
observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  com- 
manded you:  and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world  "  (Matt.  28:  18). 
"  God  also  hath  highly  exalted  Him,  and 
given  Him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name: 
that  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should 
bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth, 
and  things  under  the  earth  ;  and  that  every 
tongue  should  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord, 
to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father"  (Phil.  2:  9). 
"  God,  who  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  man- 
ners, spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the 
prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto 
us  by  His  Son,  whom  He  hath  apppinted  heir 
of  all  things,  by  whom  also  He  made  the  world; 
who  being  the  brightness  of  His  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  His  person,  and  upholding  all 
things  by  the  word  of  His  power,  when  He  had 
by  Himself  purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high.  *  *  *  Unto 
the  Son  He  saith.  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for 
ever  and  ever:  a  sceptre  of  righteouness  is  the 
sceptre  of  Thy  kingdom  "  (Heb.  i:  1-3,  8). 


I7«^  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

John  says,  "And  I  saw  the  heaven  opened; 
and  behold,  a  white  horse,  and  He  that  sat 
thereon,  called  Faithful  and  True;  and  in 
righteousness  He  doth  judge  and  make  war. 
And  His  eyes  are  a  flame  of  fire,  and  upon  His 
head  are  many  diadems;  and  He  hath  a  name 
written,  which  no  one  knoweth  but  He  Himself. 
And  He  is  arrayed  in  a  garment  sprinkled  with 
blood;  and  His  name  is  called  The  Word  of 
God.  And  the  armies  which  are  in  heaven  fol- 
lowed Him  upon  white  horses,  clothed  in  fine 
linen,  white  and  pure.  And  out  of  His  mouth 
proceedeth  a  sharp  sword;  that  with  it  he 
should  smite  the  nations:  and  He  shall  rule  them 
with  a  rod  of  iron:  and  He  treadeth  the  wine- 
press of  the  fierceness  of  the  wrath  of  Almighty 
God.  And  He  hath  on  His  garment  and  on 
His  thigh  a  name  written,  King  of  Kings  and 
Lord  of  Lords  ^*  (Rev.  19:  11). 

A  thousand  years  before  Christ  came,  when 
all  the  kingdoms  in  the  world,  excepting  the 
kingdom  of  Israel,  were  in  rebellion  against 
God,  David  wrote,  "All  the  ends  of  the  world 
shall  remepiber  and  turn  unto  Jehovah;  and  all 
the  kindreds  of  the  nations  shall  worship  before 
Thee.  For  the  kingdom  is  Jehovah's,  and  He 
is  the  governor  among  the  nations"  (Psm.  22: 
27).  Eighteen  hundred  years  have  passed  since 
Christ  charged  His  disciples,  saying,  "All  power 
is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Go 
ye,  therefore,  and  disciple  all  nations;  "  and  yet, 
nearly  three  quarters  of  the  people  in  the  world 


CHRIST,    OUR    ANOINTED    KING.  I  79 

have  never  heard  the  Gospel.  Still  the  prophecy- 
is  sure.  His  kingdom  is  progressing  fast.  The 
Angel  is  flying,  "  having  the  everlasting  Gospel 
to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth, 
and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people  "  (Rev.  14:  6).  And  the  other  angel 
is  following,  "  Saying,  Babylon  is  fallen,  is 
fallen,  that  great  city,  because  she  made  all 
nations  drink  of  the  wine  of  the  wrath  of  her 
fornication"  (Rev.  14:  8;  17:  i-i8).  Rome  and 
popery  are  falling,  but  are  not  yet  destroyed, 
as  they  surely  will  be  (Rev.  18:  1-24).  We 
shall  soon  hear  the  "  great  voices  in  heaven, 
saying,  The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become 
the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  His  Christ; 
and  He  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever '' (Rev. 
11:15). 

Child  of  God!  there  is  no  king  like  your  king. 
Having  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth  ; 
angels,  principalities  and  powers  being  subject 
to  Him,  what  can  harm  you  ?  or  injure  you  ? 
Woe  be  to  any  who  injure  one  of  the  least  of 
His  subjects.  "  Whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these 
little  ones  which  believe  in  me,  it  were  better 
for  him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  about  his 
neck,  and  that  he  were  drowned  in  the  depth  of 
the  sea"  (Matt.  18:  6).  Whosoever  shall  give 
you  a  cup  of  water  to  drink  in  my  name,  be- 
cause ye  belong  to  Christ,  verily  I  say  unto  you, 
he  shall  not  lose  his  reward"  (Mark  10:  41). 
"  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them  on  His 
right   hand,   Come,   ye  blessed  of  my  Father, 


l8o  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world,  *  *  *  Inasmuch  as  ye 
have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my 
brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me  "  (Matt. 
25:  34-40)- 

As  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King,  He  is  able  to 
do  everything  for  His  people.  **  In  that  He 
Himself  hath  suffered  being  tempted,  He  is 
able  to  succour  them  that  are  tempted  "  (Heb. 
2:  18).  He  "hath  an  unchangeable  priesthood. 
Wherefore  He  is  able  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  Him,  seeing  He 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them " 
(Heb.  7:  24).  "  Who  shall  change  our  vile 
body,  that  it  maybe  fashioned  like  unto  His 
glorious  body,  according  to  the  working  where- 
by He  is  able  even  to  subdue  all  things  unto 
Himself"  (Phil.  2:  30).  "  For  I  am  persuaded, 
that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor 
principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor 
any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us 
from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord "  (Rom.  8:31).  "I  know  whom  I 
have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  He  is  able 
to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  unto  Him 
against  that  day"  (2  Tim.  i:  12).  "It  is  a 
faithful  saying:  for  if  we  be  dead  with  Him,  we 
shall  also  live  with  Him:  if  we  suffer,  we  shall 
also  reign  with  Him"  (2  Tim.  2:  n).  "The 
throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb  shall  be  in  it; 
and    His  servants  shall  serve  Him:   and   they 


CHRISr,  OOR    ANOINTED    KING.  iSl 

shall  see  Flis  face,  and  His  name  shall  be 
on  their  foreheads  *  *  *  and  they  shall  reign 
for  ever  and  ever  "  (Rev.  22:  3). 


l82  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


UNION    WITH    CHRIST.  — CHRIST    OUR 
LIFE. 

The  Word  of  God  tells  us  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  Creator  and  Sustainer  of  all  life. 
"He  made  the  worlds,"  and  is  ''upholding  all 
things  by  the  word  of  His  power"  (Heb.  i:  2). 
"  For  by  Him  were  all  things  created,  that  are 
in  heaven,  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and  in- 
visible, whether  they  be  thrones,  or  princi- 
palities, or  powers:  all  things  were  created  by 
Him,  and  for  Him:  and  He  is  before  all  things, 
and  by  Kim  all  things  consist.  And  He  is  the 
head  of  the  body,  the  Church:  who  is  the  begin- 
ning, the  firstborn  from  the  dead;  that  in  all 
things  He  might. have  the  pre-eminence.  For 
it  pleased  the  Father  that  in  Him  should  all 
fulness  dwell;  and  having  made  peace  through 
the  blood  of  His  cross,  by  Him  to  reconcile  all 
things  unto  Himself;  by  Him,  I  say,  whether 
they  be  things  in  earth,  or  things  in  heaven  " 
(Col.  i:  16). 

The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  also  the  author,  the 
giver,  and  the  sustainer  of  spiritual  and  ever- 
lasting life  in  all  the  children  of  God.  He 
quickens  them:  giving  them  life,  when  they 
were  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins.  '*  God,  who 
is  rich  in  mercy,  for  His  great  love  wherewith 
He  loved  us,  even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins, 


CHRIST    OUR    LIFE.  183 

hath  quickened  us  together  with  Christ,  (by 
grace  ye  are  saved;)  and  hath  raised  us  up  to- 
gether, and  made  us  sit  together  in  heavenly 
places  in  Christ  Jesus.  *  *  *  For  by  grace 
are  ye  saved  through  faith;  and  that  not  of 
yourselves;  it  is  the  gift  of  God:  not  of  works, 
lest  any  man  should  boast.  For  we  are  His 
workmanship,  created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good 
works,  which  God  hath  before  ordained  that  we 
should  walk  in  them  "  (Eph.  2:  i-io).  '*  God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  He  gave  His  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life"  (John  3: 
16).  "  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  for  His  great 
love  wherewith  He  loved  us,  even  when  we 
were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickened  us  together 
with  Christ"  (Eph.  2:  4).  "Christ  also  hath 
loved  us,  and  hath  given  Himself  for  us  an 
offering  and  a  sacrifice  to  God"  (Eph.  5:  2). 
**  We  love  Him,  because  He  first  loved  us  "  (i 
John  4:  19).  Christ  hath  given  us  life;  Christ 
is  our  life.  Jesus  Christ  is  "  The  Word,  who  in 
the  beginning  was  with  God,  and  who  was  God. 
In  Him  was  life;  and  the  life  was  the  light  of 
men"  (John  1:1).  "For  as  the  Father  raiseth 
up  the  dead,  and  quickeneth  them;  even  so  the 
Son  quickeneth  whom  He  will"  (John  5:  21). 
*'  For  as  the  Father  hath  life  in  Himself;  so 
hath  He  given  to  the  Son  to  have  life  in  Him- 
self (John  1:  26).  "As  Thou  hast  given  Him 
power  over  all  flesh,  that  He  should  give  eter- 
nal life  to  as  many  as  Thou  hast  given  Him. 


184  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

And  this  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might  know 
Thee  the  only  living  and  true  God,  and  Jesus 
Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent"  (John  17:  2). 

Our  eternal  destiny,  everlasting  life  or  ever- 
lasting death,  depends  upon  our  knowing  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Na  wonder  that  Paul 
counted  all  other  knowledge  as  nothing;  and 
said,  "  I  count  all  things  but  loss,  for  the  excel- 
lency of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my 
Lord"  (Phil.  3:  8).  John  says,  "That  which 
was  from  the  beginning,  which  we  have  heard, 
which  we  have  seen  with  our  eyes,  which  we 
have  looked  upon,  and  our  hands  have  handled, 
of  the  word  of  life;  for  the  life  was  manifested, 
and  we  have  seen  it,  and  bear  witness,  and  shew 
unto  you  that  eternal  life,  which  was  with  the 
Father,  and  was  manifested  to  us  "  ( i  John  r : 
i).  '*  God  hath  given  to  us  eternal  life,  and  this 
life  is  in  His  Son.  He  that  hath  the  Son,  hath 
life;  and  he  that  hath  not  the  Son  of  God,  hath 
not  life.  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you 
that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God; 
that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life  "  (i 
John  5:11).  *'  For  God  hath  not  appointed  us 
to  wrath,  but  to  obtain  salvation  by  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  who  died  for  us,  that,  whether  we 
wake  or  sleep,  we  should  live  together  with 
Him"  (i  Thess.  5:  9). 

Jesus  said,  "  I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life:  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father,  but  by  me" 
(John  14:  6).  "  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I 
know   them,  and  they  follow  me:  and   I  give 


CHRIST    OUR    LIFE.  1 85 

unto  them  eternal  life;  and  they  shall  never 
perish,  neither  shall  any  pluck  them  out  of  my 
hand"  (John  lo:  27).  "I  am  the  resurrection, 
and  the  life:  He  that  believeth  in  me,  though 
he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live:  and  whosoever 
liveth  and  believeth  in  me  shall  never  die " 
(John  11:  25).  "Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live 
also"  (John  14:  19).  "  He  that  believeth  on  the 
Son  hath  everlasting  life  "  (John  3:  36).  "  Hath 
everlasting  life,  and  shall  not  come  into  condem- 
nation; but  is  passed  from  death  unto  life" 
(John  5:  24).  "  For  ye  are  dead,  and  your  life  is 
hid  with  Christ  in  God.  When  Christ,  who  is 
our  life,  shall  appear,  then  shall  ye  also  appear 
with  Him  in  glory"  (Col.  3:  3). 

Christ  is  now  on  the  throne  of  God,  having 
all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth;  therefore,  we 
can  say  with  Paul,  "  I  through  the  law  am  dead 
to  the  law,  that  I  might  live  unto  God.  I  am 
crucified  with  Christ:  nevertheless  I  live;  yet 
not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me:  and  the  life  which 
I  now  live  in  the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the 
Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  Himself 
forme"  (Gal.  2:  19).  "For  to  me  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain.  *  *  *  For  I  am 
in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a  desire  to  de- 
part, and  to  be  with  Christ;  which  is  far  better" 
(Phil,  i:  21).  "We  are  confident,  I  say,  and 
willing  rather  to  be  absent  from  the  body,  and 
to  be  present  with  the  Lord"  (2  Cor.  5:  8). 
"But  I  would  not  have  you  to  be  ignorant, 
brethren,  concerning  them  which   are  asleep, 


lS6  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

that  ye  sorrow  not,  even  as  others  which  have 
no  hope.  For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and 
rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in 
Jesus  will  God  bring  with  Him"  (i  Thess.  i: 

13). 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  187 


UNION    WITH    CHRIST,     CHRIST    OUR 
FOOD. 

Of  the  many  types  of  the  new  dispensation 
prefigured  in  the  old,  one  of  the  most  important 
and  instructive  is  the  Deliverance  of  the  Chil- 
dren of  Israel  from  Egypt,  and  their  journey 
through  the  wilderness  to  the  promised  land. 
The  whole  prefiguring  God's  deliverance  of  His 
people  from  the  slavery  of  the  Devil,  the  god  of 
this  world,  and  then  guiding  them,  protecting 
them,  and  feeding  them,  until  they  reach 
heaven.  Salvation,  from  its  beginning  to  its 
completion,  is  entirely  of  God.  What  the  chil- 
dren of  God  are  to  do,  is  to  "  Lay  aside  every 
weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset 
us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is 
set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author 
and  perfecter  of  our  faith  "  (Heb.  12:  i). 

The  chosen  of  God,  born  again  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  the 
Devil,  made  temples  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  are 
guided  by  the  Spirit,  as  the  children  of  Israel 
were  led  and  protected  from  their  enemies  by 
the  pillar  of  cloud  and  of  fire.  They  are  fed 
with  the  true  Manna,  the  true  Bread  from 
heaven,  until  they  reach  there. 

The  account  of  the  supply  of  water  and  of 
the  manna  given  to  the  children  of  Israel  is  full 


1 88  UNION    WITH    CHkl'S't. 

of  instruction.  Because  of  their  unbelief,  the 
children  of  Israel  were  condemned  to  journey 
through  a  wilderness  for  a  period  of  forty 
years;  a  wilderness  in  which  was  neither  water 
nor  food. 

God  supplied  them  with  water  by  a  miracle. 
He  told  Moses  to  speak  to  a  rock  and  water 
should  issue  from  it.  Instead  of  speaking  to 
the  rock  Moses  smote  it.  The  water  came,  but 
Moses  for  disobeying  God  was  not  allowed 
to  go  into  the  promised  land.  The  Scriptures 
tell  us,  "That  Rock  was  Christ."  "Moreover, 
brethren,  I  would  not  that  ye  should  be  igno- 
rant, how  that  all  our  fathers  were  under  the 
cloud,  and  all  passed  through  the  sea;  and  were 
all  baptized  unto  Moses  in  the  cloud  and  in  the 
sea;  and  did  all  eat  the  same  spiritual  meat; 
and  did  all  drink  the  same  spiritual  drink;  for 
they  drank  of  that  spiritual  Rock  that  followed 
them:  and  that  Rock  was  Christ"  (i  Cor. 
lo:  i). 

Jesus  told  the  woman  of  Samaria,  "  If  thou 
knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith 
to  thee,  Give  me  to  drink,  thou  wouldest  have 
asked  of  Him,  and  He  would  have  given  thee 
living  water.  *  *  *  Whosoever  drinketh  of  this 
water  shall  thirst  again:  but  whosoever  drinketh 
of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  never 
thirst;  but  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall 
be  in  him  a  well  of  water  springing  up  into  ever- 
lasting  life  "(John  4:  10).  "  In  the  last  day,  that 
great  day  of  the  feast,  Jesus  stood,  and  cried, 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  1 89 

saying,  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  nnto 
me,  and  drink.  He  that  believeth  on  me,  as 
the  Scripture  hath  said,  out  of  his  belly  shall 
flow  rivers  of  living  water.  But  this  spake  He 
of  the  Spirit,  which  they  that  believe  on  Him 
should  receive"  (John  8:  37). 

**  The  whole  congregation  of  the  children  of 
Israel  murmured  against  Moses  and  Aaron  in 
the  wilderness:  and  the  children  of  Israel  said 
unto  them,  Would  to  God  we  had  died  by  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  when 
we  sat  by  the  flesh  pots,  and  when  we  did  eat 
bread  to  the  full:  for  ye  have  brought  us  forth 
into  this  wilderness,  to  kill  this  whole  assembly 
with  hunger.  Then  said  the  Lord  unto  Moses, 
Behold,  I  will  rain  bread  from  heaven  for  you; 
and  the  people  shall  go  out  and  gather  a  certain 
rate  every  day,  that  I  may  prove  them,  whether 
they  will  walk  in  my  law,  or  no  "  (Exod.  16:  2). 
*  *  *  "And  when  the  children  of  Israel  saw  it, 
they  said  one  to  another,  It  is  manna:  for  they 
wist  not  what  it  was.  And  Moses  said  unto 
them.  This  is  the  bread  which  the  Lord  hath 
given  you  to  eat.  This  is  the  thing  which 
Jehovah  hath  commandeth.  Gather  of  it  every 
man  according  to  his  eating,  an  omer  for  every 
man,  according  to  the  number  of  your  persons; 
take  ye  every  man  for  them  which  are  in  his 
tent.  And  the  children  of  [srael  did  so,  and 
gathered,  some  more,  some  less.  And  when 
they  did  mete  it  with  an  omer,  he  that  gathered 
much  had  nothing  over,  and  he  that  gathered 


190  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

little  had  no  lack;  they  gathered  every  man 
according  to  his  eating.  And  Moses  said,  Let 
no  man  leave  of  it  till  the  morning.  Notwith- 
standing they  hearkened  not  unto  Moses;  but 
some  of  them  left  of  it  until  the  morning,  and 
it  bred  worms,  and  stank:  and  Moses  was  wroth 
with  them.  -  And  they  gathered  it  every  morn- 
ing, every  man  according  to  his  eating:  and 
when  the  sun  waxed  hot  it  melted.  And  it 
came  to  pass,  that  on  the  sixth  day  they 
gathered  twice  as  much  bread,  two  omers  for 
one  man:  and  all  the  rulers  of  the  congregation 
came  and  told  Moses.  And  he  said  unto  them, 
this  is  that  which  the  Lord  hath  said,  To- 
morrow is  the  rest  of  the  holy  sabbath  unto  the 
Lord:  bake  that  which  ye  will  bake  to-day, 
and  seethe  that  ye  will  seethe;  and  that  which 
remaineth  over  lay  up  for  you,  to  be  kept  until 
the  morning.  And  they  laid  it  up  till  the 
morning  as  Moses  bade:  and  it  did  not  stink, 
neither  was  there  any  worms  therein.  And  Moses 
said.  Eat  that  to-day,  for  to-day  is  a  sabbath 
unto  the  Lord:  to-day  ye  shall  not  find  it  in  the 
field.  Six  days  ye  shall  gather  it,  but  on  the 
seventh  day,  which  is  the  sabbath,  in  it  there 
shall  be  none.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that  there 
went  out  some  of  the  people  on  the  seventh 
day  for  to  gather,  and  they  found  none  "  (Ex. 
16:  2).  "And  the  children  of  Israel  did  eat 
manna  forty  years,  until  they  came  to  land  in- 
habited; they  did  eat  manna,  until  they  came 
unto  the  borders  of  the  land  of  Canaan  "  (Exod. 
16:  35)- 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  19I 

After  Jesus  had  fed  the  five  thousand  me| 
with  five  barley  loaves  and  two  small  fishes 
which  a  lad  had;  and  after  they  were  filled  and 
twelve  baskets  full  were  left,  the  men  sai^ 
"  This  is  of  a  truth  that  prophet  that  should 
come  into  the  world.  When  Jesus,  therefore, 
perceived  that  they  would  come  and  take  Him 
by  force  to  make  Him  a  king.  He  departed 
again  into  a  mountain  Himself  alone  "  (John 
6:  9).  The  following  day  the  people  sought 
Him.  Jesus  said  to  them,  *'  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  you.  Ye  seek  me,  not  because  ye  saw  the 
miracles,  but  because  ye  did  eat  of  the  loaves, 
and  were  filled.  Labour  not  for  the  meat 
which  perisheth,  but  for  that  meat  which  en- 
dureth  unto  everlasting  life,  which  the  Son  of 
man  shall  give  unto  you:  for  Him  hath  God  the 
Father  sealed.  Then  said  they  unto  Him, 
What  shall  we  do,  that  we  might  work  the 
works  of  God.?  Jesus  answered  and  said 
unto  them,  This  is  the  work  of  God, 
that  ye  believe  on  Him  whom  He  hath 
sent.  They  said,  therefore,  unto  Him,  What 
sign  shewest  thou  then,  that  we  may  see,  and 
believe  thee?  What  dost  thou  work?  Our 
fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the  desert;  as  it  is 
written,  He  gave  them  bread  from  heaven  to 
eat.  Then  Jesus  said  unto  them.  Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  Moses  gave  you  not  that  bread 
from  heaven;  but  my  Father  giveth  the  true 
bread  from  heaven.  For  the  bread  of  God  is 
He  which  cometh  down  from  heaven,  and  giveth 


192  UNION    WllH    CHRIST. 

life  unto  the  world.  Then  said  they  unto  Him, 
Lord,  evermore  give  us  this  bread.  And  Jesus 
said  unto  them,  I  am  the  bread  of  life:  he  that 
Cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger;  and  he  that 
believeth  on  me  shall  never  thirst.  *  *  * 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that  believeth 
on  me  hath  everlasting  life.  I  am  that  bread 
of  life.  Your  fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the 
wilderness,  and  are  dead.  This  is  the  bread 
which  Cometh  down  from  heaven,  that  a  man 
may  eat  thereof,  and  not  die.  I  am  the  living 
bread  which  came  down  from  heaven:  if  any 
man  eat  of  this  bread,  he  shall  live  forever:  and 
the  bread  that  I  will  give  is  my  flesh,  which  I 
give  for  the  life  of  the  world.  *  *  *  It  is 
the  Spirit  that  quickeneth;  the  flesh  profiteth 
nothing:  the  words  that  I  speak  unto  you,  they 
are  spirit,  and  they  are  life"  (John  6:  26,  47, 

In  all  ages  the  Word  of  God  was  to  be  fed 
upon  as  spiritual  food.  "  Moreover  he  said  unto 
me.  Son  of  man,  all  my  words  that  I  shall  speak 
unto  thee  receive  in  thine  heart,  and  hear  with 
thine  ears"  (Ezek  3:  10).  The  Lord  spake  to 
Ezekiel,  "  Open  thy  mouth,  and  eat  that  I  give 
thee.  And  when  I  looked,  behold,  a  hand  was 
sent  unto  me;  and,  lo,  a  roll  of  a  book  was 
therein;  and  he  spread  it  before  me;  and  it  was 
written  within  and  without:  and  there  was 
written  therein  lamentations,  and  mourning, 
and  woe.  Moreover  he  said  unto  me.  Son  of 
man,  eat  that  thou  findest;  eat  this  roll,  and  go 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  193 

Speak  unto  the  house  of  Israel"  (Ezek.  2:  8;  3: 
i).  Those  sent  to  call  sinners  to  repentance 
must  eat  the  book,  the  Bible,  the  word  of  God, 
even  if  it  contains  "written  therein  lamenta- 
tions, and  mourning,  and  woe."  They  must 
deliver  that  word,  "  and  tell  them.  Thus  saith 
the  Lord  God;  whether  they  will  hear  or 
whether  they  will  forbear."  Ezekiel  was  told 
to  do  this,  even  after  he  was  told,  "  But  the 
house  of  Israel  will  not  hearken  unto  thee;  for 
they  will  not  hearken  unto  me  "  (Ezek.  2).  He 
must  first,  '*  Eat  the  book,"  and  then  deliver  the 
message  contained  in  it,  even  when  told  they 
would  not  hear  him.  John  writes,  "  I  saw  an- 
other mighty  angel,"*  *  *  *  "  and  he  had  in  his 
hand  a  little  book  "***♦'  and  the  voice  which 
I  heard  from  heaven  spoke  unto  me  again,  and 
said,  Go  and  take  the  little  book  which  is  open 
in  the  hand  of  the  angel:"  *  *  *  "And  I  went 
unto  the  angel,  and  said  unto  him,  Give  me  the 
little  book.  And  he  said  unto  me,  Take  it  and 
eat  it  up."  *  *  *  "And  I  took  the  little  book 
out  of  the  angel's  hand,  and  ate  it  up."  *  *  * 
"And  he  said  unto  me.  Thou  must  prophesy 
again  before  many  peoples,  and  nations,  and 
tongues,  and  kings"  (Rev.  10:  i).  We  must 
eat  Christ,  as  He  is  revealed  in  His  word;  that 
we  may  have  everlasting  life  and  be  enabled  to 
carry  the  message  of  God  to  others.  The 
whole  Bible  is  the  presentation  of  Christ;  He  is 
the  Word.  "  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word, 
and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 


X94  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

God."  *  *  *   "And  the  Word  was  made  flesh, 
and  dwelt  among  us  "  (John  i:  i,  14). 

We  make  a  great  mistake  in  not  studying 
the  Old  Testament  and  '*  eating  "  it.  It  was 
the  only  Scriptures  in  the  time  of  Christ  and 
of  the  apostles.  Christ  constantly  referred  to 
them  to  prove  that  He  was  the  Christ ;  that 
Christ  was  to  suffer  ;  '*  beginning  at  Moses  and 
all  the  prophets,  He  expounded  unto  them  in 
all  the  Scriptures  the  things  concerning  Him- 
self," and  said  unto  them,  "All  things  must  be 
fulfilled,  which  were  written  in  the  law  of 
Moses,  and  in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  psalms 
concerning  me  "  (Luke  24:  27,  44).  **  Ye  do  err 
not  knowing  the  Scriptures"  (Matt.  22:  29). 
*'  They  are  they  which  testify  of  me  "  (John  5: 
39).  It  was  to  the  Old  Testament  that  Paul 
referred  when  he  wrote  to  Timothy,  "  From  a 
child  thou  hast  known  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
which  are  able  to  make  thee  wise  unto  salva- 
tion through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God, 
and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for 
correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness  : 
that  the  man  of  God  may  be  perfect,  thor- 
oughly furnished  unto  all  good  works  "  (2  Tim. 

3:  15). 

Therefore,  we  are  to  see  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  all  the  Holy  Scriptures;  from  the 
promise  of  Him  made  to  Adam,  and  Abel's 
sacrifice  of  the  lamb  in  Genesis,  to  the  "  Lamb 
as  it  had  been  slain,  in  the  midst  of  the  throne," 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  1 95 

in  Revelation.  We  are  to  receive  that  Word, 
feed  upon  that  Word,  believe  that  Word,  and 
thus  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  "  Till  we  all 
come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect 
man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the 
fulness  of  Christ"  (Eph.  4:  13). 

Beware  of  any  suggestion  of  the  Devil, 
whether  coming  to  you  directly,  or  through 
others,  causing  you  to  doubt  that  Word.  Beware 
of  false  priests  putting  the  traditions  of  their 
church  in  the  place  of  that  Word.  Beware  of 
the  assertions  of  some  pretending  to  a  higher 
criticism.  "  Keep  that  which  is  committed  to 
thy  trust,  avoiding  profane  and  vain  babblings, 
and  oppositions  of  science  falsely  so  called, 
which  some  professing  have  erred  concerning 
the  faith  "(i  Tim.  6:  20). 

Beware  of  adding  to,  or  taking  from  the 
Scriptures.  "  Ye  shall  not  add  to  the  word 
which  I  command  you,  neither  shall  ye  diminish 
ought  from  it  "  (Deut.  4:  2).  "What  thing  so- 
ever I  command  you,  observe  to  do  it :  thou 
shalt  not  add  thereto,  nor  diminish  from  it " 
(Deut.  12:  32).  "If  any  man  shall  add  unto 
these  things,  God  shall  add  unto  him  the 
plagues  that  are  written  in  this  book:  and  if 
any  man  shall  take  away  from  the  words  of  the 
book  of  this  prophecy,  God  shall  take  away  his 
part  out  of  the  book  of  life"  (Rev.  22:  18). 
"As  we  said  before,  so  say  I  now  again.  If  any 


196  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

man  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you  than 
that  ye  have  received,  let  him  be  accursed  " 
(Gal.  1:8). 

"As  new-born  babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk 
of  the  Word,  that  ye  may  grow  thereby " 
(i  Pet.  2:  2).  Christ  is  the  true  food  of  the 
soul.  The  soul  needs  spiritual  food.  Christ's 
word,  and  Christ's  broken  body,  and  Christ's 
blood  shed  for  us,  as  revealed  in  that  Word, 
when  received  into  the  soul  by  faith,  nourish 
and  strengthen  us.  As  the  faith  of  the  Jew 
was  strengthened  every  time  he  partook  of  the 
feast  commemorating  the  Passover,  so  is  the 
faith  of  the  Christian  increased  in  the  sacrifice 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  us,  every  time, 
that  with  faith  in  that  sacrifice,  he  partakes  of 
the  feast  instituted  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as 
a  commemoration  of  it.  "  For  as  often  as  ye 
eat  this  bread,  and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  shew 
the  Lord's  death  till  He  come  "  (i  Cor.  11:  26). 

In  feeding  upon  Christ,  as  He  is  revealed  in 
His  word,  we  are  to  look  to  the  Holy  Ghost 
promised  to  His  disciples.  "  He  shall  teach 
you  all  things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your  re- 
membrance, whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you  " 
(John  14:  26).  "  He  will  guide  you  into  all 
truth:  "  "  He  shall  glorify  me:  for  He  shall  re- 
ceive of  mine,  and  shall  shew  it  unto  you. 
All  things  that  the  Father  hath  are  mine:  there- 
fore said  I,  that  He  shall  take  of  mine,  and 
shall  shew  it  unto  you  "  (John  16:  13).  Doing 
this,  our  souls  will  grow  in  the  knowledge  of 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  T97 

God  and  of  Christ.     "And  this  is  life  eternal. 


that  they  might  know  Thee  the  only  true  God, 
and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  Thou  hast  sent  "  (John 

17:  3). 

There  is  this  difference  between  the  manna 
and  Christ.  He  said  to  the  Jews,  "Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  He  that  believe th  on 
me  hath  everlasting  life.  I  am  that  bread  of 
life.  Your  fathers  did  eat  manna  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  are  dead.  This  is  the  bread  which 
Cometh  down  from  heaven,  that  a  man  may  eat 
thereof,  and  not  die.  I  am  the  living  bread 
which  came  down  from  heaven :  if  any  man  eat 
of  this  bread  he  shall  live  for  ever"  (John  6: 
47).  As  it  was  with  the  manna,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  only  spiritual  food  provided  for  the 
children  of  God  for  their  whole  journey  through 
this  world.  There  is  an  abundant  supply  for 
them  all.  It  has  been  continued  from  the  be- 
ginning, and  will  continue  until  the  end  of  the 
world.  It  is  suited  for  all  the  generations  of 
men;  for  all  nations;  for  all  ages,  old  and 
young;  for  all  classes;  king  or  beggar,  rich  and 
poor,  learned  and  ignorant.  All  must  gather  it 
daily;  all  must  receive  it;  all  must  assimilate 
it,  and  live  upon  it,  or  they  will  starve  and  die. 
They  must  also  gather  it  for  their  household. 

To  enable  us  to  realize  more  fully  the  great 
things  which  accompany  salvation,  and  the 
great  privileges  we  enjoy  as  children  of  God, 
we  are  urged  to  "grow  in  the  grace  and  knowl- 
edge of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ"  (2 


19^  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Pet.  3:  18).  Peter  begins  his  second  epistle  ad- 
dressed "to  them  that  have  obtained  a  like 
precious  faith  with  us  in  the  righteousness  of 
our  God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ:  grace  to  you 
and  peace  be  multiplied  in  the  knowledge  of 
God  and  of  Jesus  our  Lord:  seeing  that  His 
divine  power  hath  granted  unto  us  all  things 
that  pertain  unto  life  and  godliness,  through 
the  knowledge  of  Him  that  called  us  by  His 
own  glory  and  virtue;  whereby  He  hath  granted 
unto  us  His  precious  and  exceeding  great  prom- 
ises; that  by  these  ye  may  become  partakers  of 
the  divine  nature"  (2  Pet.  i:  2).  The  "all 
things"  come  through  knowledge  of  Christ. 
This  knowledge  and  these  "  precious  and  ex- 
ceeding great  promises  "  are  contained  in  His 
word.  Studying  that  word,  believing  that 
word,  the  child  of  God  receives  this  knowledge, 
and  those  promises;  and  becomes  a  "partaker 
of  the  divine  nature." 

We  are  told  to  pray,  "Give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread."  We  must  bear  in  mind,  in  using 
this  prayer,  that  the  true  Bread  given  to  us  by 
God,  is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  need  a  fresh 
supply  of  bread  every  day.  It  must  be  eaten 
and  assimilated  by  us,  and  become  a  part  of  us, 
or  it  will  do  us  no  good.  Looking  to  Christ, 
now  and  then,  as  an  example,  or  reading  about 
Him,  or  hearing  about  Him  occasionally,  is  not 
enough.  We  must  receive  Him  as  our  food, 
and  He  must  become  our  life,  and  live  in  us, 
day  by  day,  until  we  reach  heaven.     Paul  said, 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  I99 

"I  live,  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me"  (Gal. 
2:  20).  By  His  death  Jesus  became  the  Bread 
of  life.  He  said,  "Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you 
Except  a  corn  of  wheat  fall  into  the  ground 
and  die,  it  abideth  alone:  but  if  it  die,  it  bring- 
eth  forth  much  fruit.  *  *  *  And  I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up  from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto 
me.  This  He  said,  signifying  what  death  He 
should  die"  (John  12:  24,  32).  In  Him  is  every- 
thing we  need  to  sustain  the  life  which  He  has 
given  to  us.  We  have  His  word:  all  we  have  to 
do  is  to  gather  it  and  feed  upon  it.  We  need 
to  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Him. 
"As  new-born  babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk  of 
the  word,  that  ye  may  grow  thereby"  (i  Pet.  2: 
2).  We  need  light,  and  guidance,  and  under- 
standing. "The  entrance  of  Thy  words  giveth 
light;  it  giveth  understanding  to  the  simple" 
(Psm.  119:  130).  "Thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my 
feet,  and  a  lighf  unto  my  path"  (Psm.  119:  105). 
We  need  quickening.  "My  soul  cleaveth  unto 
the  dust:  quicken  Thou  me  according  to  Thy 
word"  (Psm.  119:25,  50).  We  need  sanctifica- 
tion.  "Sanctify  them  through  Thy  truth.  Thy 
word  is  truth"  (John  17:  17).  We  need  wisdom 
and  righteousness.  "  But  of  Him  are  ye  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wis- 
dom, and  righteousness,  and  sanctification,  and 
redemption"  (i  Cor.  i:  30).  "For  Christ  is  the 
end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  every  one 
that  believeth"  (Rom.  10:  4).  We  are  to  "receive 
with   meekness  the   engrafted  word,  which  is 


200  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

able  to  save  your  souls"  (James  i:  21).  "The 
word  of  His  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you 
up,  and  to  give  you  an  inheritance  among  all 
them  that  are  sanctified"  (Acts  20:  32).  We 
need  peace  and  comfort.  Jesus  says,  "Peace  I 
leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you:  not 
as  the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you.  Let  not 
your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid" 
(John  14:  27).  '-Leave  thy  fatherless  children, 
I  will  preserve  them  alive;  and  let  thy  widows 
trust  in  me"  (Jer.  49:  11).  In  Christ  we  have 
life.  "He  that  heareth  my  word  and  believeth 
on  Him  that  sent  me  hath  everlasting  life,  and 
shall  not  come  into  condemnation;  but  is  passed 
from  death  unto  life"  (John  5:  24).  "Whoso- 
ever liveth,  and  believeth  in  me,  shall  never 
die"  (John  11:  26),  "Because  I  live,  ye  shall 
live  also"  (John  14:  19).  We  need  strength. 
"He  said  unto  me,  My  grace  is  sufficient  for 
thee:  for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weak- 
ness" (2  Cor.  12:  9).  We  have  a  desire  to  do 
good  works.  Christ  says,  "Abide  in  me,  and  I 
in  you.  As  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  it- 
self, except  it  abide  in  the  vine;  no  more  can 
ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me.  I  am  the  vine,  ye 
are  the  branches:  He  that  abide th  in  me,  and  I 
in  Him,  the  same  bringeth  forth  much  fruit: 
for  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing"  (John  15). 
Paul  says,  "I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ 
which  strengtheneth  me"  (Phil.  4:  13).  The 
believer  in  Christ  can  appropriate  all  the  prom- 
ises in  the  Bible.     "All  the  promises  of  God  in 


CHRIST    OUR    FOOD.  JOZ 

Him  are  yea,  and  in  Him  Amen,  unto  the  glory 
of  God  by  us"  (2  Cor.  i:  20).  "We  know  that 
all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  God"  (Rom.  8:  28).  *'For  I  am  persuaded 
that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor 
principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor 
any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us 
from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord"  (Rom.  8:  38).  *'A11  things  are  yours; 
whether  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or  the 
world,  or  life,  or  death,  or  things  present,  or 
things  to  come;  all  are  yours;  and  ye  are 
Christ's;  and  Christ  is  God's"  (i  Cor.  3:  21). 
Believing  these  words  of  Christ,  we  receive 
Him ;  are  united  to  Him ;  we  grow  in  grace  and 
in  knowledge  of  Him;  and  have  everlasting  life. 
Christ  is  the  true  Bread  from  heaven  given  by 
God. 


202  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


UNION  WITH  CHRIST. 

FATHER — BROTHER — FRIEND. 

Among  the  many  names  by  which  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  reveals  Himself  to  us,  showing  the 
close  and  intimate  union  there  is  between  Him 
and  believers  in  Him,  is  that  of  Father. 
Although  Christ  is  spoken  of  as  the  Son  of  the 
Father,  yet  the  Scriptures  speak  of  Christ  also 
as  Father;  as  one  with  the  Father,  and  as 
having  a  special  seed;  those  believing  in  Him. 
"  For  unto  us  a  child  is  bom,  unto  us  a  son  is 
given,  and  the  government  shall  be  upon  His 
shoulder:  and  His  name  shall  be  called  Won- 
derful, Counsellor,  Mighty  God,  Everlasting 
Father,  Prince  of  Peace.  Of  the  increase  of 
His  Government  and  of  peace  there  shall  be  no 
end  "  (Isai.  9:  6),  Jesus  said,  "  I  snd  my  Father 
are  one  '*  (John  10: 30).  The  Scriptures  tell  us 
that  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  **  were  all  things 
created  that  are  in  heaven,  and  that  are  in 
earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be 
thrones,  or  dominions,  or  principalities,  or 
powers:  all  things  were  created  by  Him  and  for 
Him,  and  He  is  before  all  things,  and  by  Him 
all  things  consist.  And  He  is  the  head  of  the 
body,  the  Church  "  (Col.  i:  16).  John,  speak- 
ing of  Jesus,  says,  "  He  was  in  the  world, 
and    the     world    was     made    by    Him,    and 


FATHER — BROTHER — FRIEND.  203 

the  world  knew  Him  not  "  (John  i:  to).  "  God, 
who  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners, 
spake  in  time  past  unto  the  fathers  by  the 
prophets,  hath  in  these  latter  days  spoken  unto 
us  by  His  Son,  whom  He  hath  appointed  heir  of 
all  things,  by  whom  also  He  made  the  world; 
•wlio  being  the  brightness  of  His  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  His  person,  and  upholding  all 
things  by  the  word  of  His  power,  when  He  had 
by  Himself  purged  our  sins,  sat  down  on  the 
right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high"  (Heb.  i:  i). 
As  the  Creator  and  upholder  of  all  things,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  well  be  named  '*  The 
Mighty  God,  Everlasting  Father."  He  is  also 
the  Father  of  them  who  believe  in  Him,  they 
are  His  spiritual  seed.  "  When  thou  shalt  make 
his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,  he  shall  see  his  seed, 
he  shall  prolong  his  days,  and  the  pleasure  of 
Jehovah  shall  prosper  in  his  hand.  He  shall  see 
of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  shall  be  satisfied  " 
(Isai.  53:  10).  "A  seed  shall  serve  Him,  it  shall 
be  accounted  to  the  Lord  for  a  generation  " 
(Psm.  22-  30).  He  says,  "For  both  He  that 
sanctified  and  they  who  are  sanctified  are  all  of 
one.  *  *  *  "  Behold  I  and  the  children  which 
God  hath  given  me"  (Heb.  2:11,  13). 

BROTHER. 

Jesus  calls  His  disciples.  Brethren:  "  For  it 
became  Him,  for  whom  are  all  things,  and  by 
whom  are  all  things,  in  bringing  many  sons 
unto  glory,  to  make  the  author  of  their 


204  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

tion  perfect  through  sufferings.  For  both  He 
that  sanctifieth  and  they  who  are  sanctified  are 
all  of  one:  for  which  cause  He  is  not  ashamed 
to  call  them  brethren,  saying,  I  will  declare  thy 
name  unto  my  brethren"  (Heb.  2:  10).  His 
relationship  to  believers  is  far  closer  than  any 
earthly  relationship.  When  He  was  told  that 
His  mother  and  His  brethren  were  without,  de- 
siring to  see  Him,  "He  stretched  forth  His 
hand  toward  His  disciples  and  said,  Behold  my 
mother  and  my  brethren!  For  whosoever  shall 
do  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven, 
the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister,  and  mother  " 
(Matt.  12:  49).  After  His  resurrection,  Jesus 
met  the  women  who  were  sent  by  the  angel  to 
tell  His  disciples  that  He  was  risen,  and  said 
unto  them,  "  Be  not  afraid:  go  tell  my  brethren 
that  they  go  into  Galilee,  and  there  shall  they 
see  me"  (Matt.  28:  9).  When  He  revealed 
Himself  to  Mary  Magdalen,  "  Jesus  saith  unto 
her,  Cling  not  to  me  (Take  not  hold  on  me) ; 
for  I  am  not  yet  ascended  to  my  Father:  but  go 
to  my  brethren,  and  say  unto  them,  I  ascend 
unto  my  Father,  and  your  Father;  and  to  my 
God,  and  your  God"  (John  20:  17).  When 
Christ  is  on  His  throne  judging  the  world.  His 
disciples  will  be  acknowledged  before  the  uni- 
verse. "  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit 
the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world."  Then  any  act  of  kindness 
done  to  a  disciple  will  be  acknowledged  as  done 
unto  Him.    "And  the  King  shall  answer  and 


FATHER — BROTHER — FRIEND.  205 

say  unto  them,  Verily,  I  say  unto  you.  Inasmuch 
as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these 
my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me  "  (Matt. 
25:40).  The  children  of  God  were  predestin- 
ated to  be  brethren  of  Christ.  "  For  whom  He 
did  foreknow.  He  also  did  predestinate  to  be 
conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son,  that  he 
might  be  the  first  born  among  many  brethren  " 
(Rom.  8:  29).  Believers  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  "  The  Spirit  itself  beareth  witness  with 
our  spirit,  that  we  are  the  children  of  God:  and 
if  children,  then  heirs;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint- 
heirs  with  Christ"  (Rom.  8:  16),  our  elder 
Brother. 

FRIEND. 

Jesus  also  honors  His  disciples  by  making 
them  His  friends.  A  friend  is  one  whom  we 
love  and  esteem  above  others;  to  whom  we  im- 
part our  minds  more  familiarly  than  to  others; 
and  that  from  a  confidence  of  his  integrity  and 
good  will  towards  us;  thus  Jonathan  and  David 
were  mutually  friends.  The  Scriptures  say,  "A 
friend  loveth  at  all  times"  (Prov.  17:  17). 
"  There  is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a 
brother"  (Prov.  18:  24).  "Faithful  are  the 
wounds  of  a  friend  "  (Prov.  27:  6).  *'  Ointment 
and  perfume  rejoice  the  heart;  so  doth  the 
sweetness  of  a  man's  friend  by  hearty  counsel  " 
(Prov.  27:  9).  "Jehovah  spoke  unto  Moses  face 
to  face,  as  a  man  speaketh  unto  his  friend" 
(Exod.  33:  11).     In  the  Bible  Abraham  is  often 


206  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

called  the  "  Friend  of  God."  "And  the  Lord 
said.  Shall  I  hide  from  Abraham  that  thing 
which  I  do;  seeing  that  Abraham  shall  surely- 
become  a  great  and  mighty  nation,  and  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth  shall  be  blessed  in  him  ?  " 
(Gen.  1 8:  17)  "And  the  Scripture  was  fulfilled 
which  saith,  Abraham  believed  God,  and  it  was 
imputed  unto  him  for  righteousness:  and  he 
was  called  the  Friend  of  God"  (James  2:  23; 
Exod.  i^y.  11;  2  Chron.  20:  7;  Isai.  41:  8).  Jesus 
said,  "  Greater  love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that 
a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friend.  Ye  are 
my  friends,  if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you. 
Henceforth  I  call  ye  not  servants;  for  the 
servant  knoweth  not  what  his  lord  doeth:  but 
I  have  called  you  friends;  for  all  things  that  I 
have  heard  of  my  Father  I  have  made  known 
unto  you  "  (John  15 :  13).  This  was  said,  "When 
Jesus  knew  that  His  hour  was  come  that  He 
should  depart  out  of  this  world  unto  the  Father," 
and  "  knowing  that  the  Father  had  given  all 
things  into  His  hands,  and  that  He  was  come 
from  God,  and  went  to  God"  (John  13:  i,  3). 
As  He  was  about  to  ascend  to  the  throne  of  the 
universe.  He  assures  His  disciples  that  He  is 
their  Friend.  Child  of  God!  our  Father,  Brother, 
Friend,  has  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth. 


HUSBAND    AND    WIPE.  207 


UNION  WITH  CHRIST. 

HUSBAND   AND   WIFE. 

The  union  between  Christ  and  His  Church  is 
described  in  the  Scriptures  by  words  which  are 
used  for  the  closest,  the  most  intimate,  the  most 
confiding  and  most  loving  of  all  human  relation- 
ships: that  of  husband  and  wife.  This  relation- 
ship is  frequently  spoken  of  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, as  well  as  the  New:  "For  thy  Maker  is 
thine  husband:  Jehovah  of  hosts  is  His  name; 
and  thy  Redeemer  the  Holy  One  of  Israel;  the 
Grod  of  the  whole  earth  shall  He  be  called" 
(Isai.  54:  5).  **As  the  bridegroom  rejoiceth 
over  the  bride,  so  shall  thy  God  rejoice  over 
thee"  (Isai.  62:5).  "Turn,  O  backsliding  chil- 
dren, saith  Jehovah;  for  I  am  married  unto 
you"  (Jer.  3:  14;  31:  32).  "Son  of  Man,  cause 
Jerusalem  to  know  her  abominations,  and  say. 
Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  unto  Jerusalem;  Thy 
birth  and  thy  nativity  is  of  the  land  of  Canaan; 
thy  father  was  an  Amorite,  and  thy  mother  a 
Hittite.  *  *  *  Thou  wast  cast  out  in  the 
open  field.  *  *  *  And  when  I  passed  by 
thee,  and  saw  thee  polluted  in  thine  own  blood, 
I  said  unto  thee  when  thou  wast  in  thy  blood. 
Live;  yea,  I  said  unto  thee  when  thou  wast  in 
thy  blood,  Live.     I  have  caused  thee  to  multiply 


208  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

as  the  bud  of  the  field,  and  thou  hast  increased 
and  waxen  great.  *  *  *  I  thoroug-hly  washed 
away  thy  blood  from  thee,  and  I  anointed  thee 
with  oil.  I  clothed  thee  also  with  ornaments, 
and  I  put  bracelets  upon  thy  hands,  and  a  chain 
on  thy  neck.  And  I  put  a  jewel  on  thy  fore- 
head, and  ear  rings  in  thine  ears,  and  a  beautiful 
crown  upon  thine  head.  Thus  wast  thou  decked 
with  gold  and  silver;  and  thy  raiment  was  of 
fine  linen,  and  silk,  and  broidered  work;  thou 
didst  eat  fine  flour,  and  honey,  and  oil;  and  thou 
wast  exceeding  beautiful,  and  thou  didst  pros- 
per into  a  kingdom.  And  thy  renown  went 
forth  among  the  heathen  for  thy  beauty:  for  it 
was  perfect  through  my  comeliness,  which  I 
had  put  upon  thee,  saith  the  Lord  God.  But 
thou  didst  trust  in  thine  own  beauty,  and 
playedst  the  harlot.  *  *  *  I  will  judge  thee, 
as  women  that  break  wedlock  and  shed  blood 
are  judged.  *  *  *  And  I  will  cause  thee  to 
cease  from  playing  the  harlot.  *  *  *  So  will 
I  make  my  fury  toward  thee  to  rest,  and  my 
jealousy  shall  depart  from  thee.  *  *  *  Never- 
theless, I  will  remember  my  covenant  with  thee 
in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  I  will  establish 
unto  thee  an  everlasting  covenant"  (Ezek.  i6). 
"And  I  will  betroth  thee  unto  me  forever;  yea, 
I  will  betroth  thee  unto  me  in  righteousness, 
and  in  judgment,  and  in  loving-kindness,  and  in 
mercies.  I  will  even  betroth  thee  unto  me  in 
faithfulness:  and  thou  shalt  know  Jehovah" 
(Hosea  2:  19).     Paul  writes,  *'I  am  jealous  over 


HUSBAND    AND    WIFE.  209 

you  with  a  godly  jealousy:  for  I  have  espoused 
you  to  one  husband,  that  I  may  present  you  as 
a  chaste  virgin  to  Christ.  But  I  fear,  lest  by 
any  means,  as  the  serpent  beguiled  Eve,  through 
his  subtilty,  so  your  minds  should  be  corrupted 
from  the  simplicity  that  is  in  Christ"  (2  Cor.  11: 
2).  "Wives,  submit  yourselves  unto  your  own 
husbands,  as  unto  the  Lord.  For  the  husband 
is  the  head  of  the  wife,  even  as  Christ  is  the 
head  of  the  Church:  and  He  is  the  Saviour  of 
the  body.  Therefore  as  the  Church  is  subject 
unto  Christ,  so  let  the  wives  be  to  their  own 
husbands  in  everything.  Husbands,  love  your 
wives,  even  as  Christ  also  loved  the  Church,  and 
gave  Himself  for  it;  that  He  might  sanctify  and 
cleanse  it  with  the  washing  of  water  by  the 
word,  that  He  might  present  it  to  Himself  a 
glorious  Church,  not  having  spot,  or  wrinkle,  or 
any  such  thing;  but  that  it  should  be  holy  and 
without  blemish"  (Eph.  5:  22). 

The  Church  is  called  the  wife  of  the  Lamb  in 
the  Revelation.  "Let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice, 
and  give  honour  to  Him:  for  the  marriage  of 
the  Lamb  is  come,  and  His  wife  hath  made  her- 
self ready.  And  to  her  was  granted  that  she 
should  be  arrayed  in  fine  linen,  clean  and  white: 
for  the  fine  linen  is  the  righteousness  of  saints" 
(Rev.  19:7).  "For  the  fine  linen  is  the  righteous 
acts  of  the  saints"  (Rev.  19:8,  Revised  Version). 
The  saints  are  not  only  clothed  with  the  right- 
eousness of  Christ,  but  they  are  also  adorned 
with  the  graces  produced  in  them  by  the  Holy 


2IO  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Spirit.  "The  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  love,  joy- 
peace,  long  suffering,  kindness,  goodness,  faith- 
fulness, meekness,  temperance"  (Gal.  5:  22). 
"Whose  adorning  let  it  not  be  the  outward 
adorning,  *  *  *  but  let  it  be  the  hidden  man  of 
the  heart  in  the  incorruptible  apparel  of  a  meek 
and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God  of 
great  price"  (i  Pet.  3:  3).  "I  desire  therefore 
that  the  men  pray  in  every  place,  lifting  up 
holy  hands,  without  wrath  and  disputing.  In 
like  manner,  that  women  adorn  themselves  *  *  * 
through  good  works"  (i  Tim.  2:  8).  "I  will 
greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my  soul  shall  be 
joyful  in  my  God:  for  He  hath  clothed  me  with 
the  garments  of  salvation.  He  hath  covered  me 
with  the  robe  of  righteousness,  as  a  bridegroom 
decketh  himself  with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride 
adometh  herself  with  her  jewels"  (Isai.  61:  10). 
"And  I  saw  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth: 
for  the  first  heaven  and  the  first  earth  were 
passed  away;  and  there  was  no  more  sea.  And 
I  John  saw  the  holy  city.  New  Jerusalem,  com- 
ing down  from  God  out  of  heaven,  prepared  as 
a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband.  And  I  heard 
a  great  voice  out  of  heaven  saying.  Behold,  the 
tabernacle  of  God  is  with  men,  and  He  will 
dwell  with  them,  and  they  shall  be  His  people, 
and  God  Himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be 
their  God.  And  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears 
from  their  eyes;  and  there  shall  be  no  more 
death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall 
there  be  any  more  pain:  for  the  former  things 
are  passed  away"  (Rev.  21:  i). 


HUSBAND    AND    WIFE.  211 

The  marriage  of  Christ  and  His  Church  is 
typified  by  that  of  husband  and  wife.  As  in  a 
true  marriage  there  must  be  mutual  consent 
and  love,  mutual  esteem  and  confidence,  mutual 
surrender  and  consecration,  which  can  only  be 
founded  on  knowledge  of  each  other;  so,  in  a 
far  greater  degree  is  all  this  between  Christ  and 
His  Bride,  the  Church.  Being  both  partakers 
of  one  Spirit,  their  union  is  a  spiritual  union 
Christ  loved  the  Church,  and  gave  Himself  for 
it"  (Eph.  5:  25).  The  believer  gives  up  all 
things  for  Christ.  Christ  says,  "  He  that  loveth 
father  or  mother  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy 
of  me:  and  he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more 
than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me;  and  he  that 
taketh  not  his  cross  and  followeth  after  me,  is 
not  worthy  of  me  "  (Matt.  10:37).  "  Every  one 
that  hath  forsaken  houses  or  brethren,  or  sisters, 
or  father,  or  mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or 
lands,  for  my  name's  sake,  shall  receive  an  hun- 
dred-fold, and  shall  inherit  everlasting  life" 
(Matt.  19:  29). 

The  Bible  uses  very  strong  language  to 
members  of  the  church  who  cling  to  the  world. 
"  Ye  adulterers  and  adulteresses,  know  ye  not 
that  the  friendship  of  the  world  is  enmity  with 
God  ?  whosoever,  therefore,  will  be  a  friend 
of  the  world,  is  the  enemy  of  God "  (James 
4:  4). 

The  Bride  is  called  to  suffer  with  Christ  in 
this  world;  but  believers  are  told,  "  Rejoice,  in- 
asmuch as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's  suffer- 


212  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

ings;  that  when  His  glory  shall  be  revealed,  ye 
may  be  glad  also  with  exceeding  joy"  (i  Pet.  4: 
13).  **  It  is  a  faithful  saying:  For  if  we  be 
dead  with  Him,  we  shall  also  live  with  Him:  if 
we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  Him " 
(2  Tim.  2:  11). 

Christ  spoke  of  the  coming  marriage  feast  in 
the  parable  of  the  King,  who  made  a  marriage 
feast  for  his  son  (Matt.  22:  2);  and  in  the  para- 
ble of  the  Ten  Virgins,  who  went  forth  to  meet 
the  Bridegroom  (Matt.  25:  i).  In  Revelation 
we  have  accounts  of  the  glorious  mansion  pre- 
pared by  Christ  for  His  Bride,  His  Church,  (Rev. 
21:  i)  and  also,  of  the  festivities  of  the  marriage 
feast.  "  Let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice,  and  give 
honor  to  Him:  for  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  is 
come,  and  His  wife  hath  made  herself  ready  " 
(Rev.  19:  7).  "And  He  said  unto  me,  Write, 
Blessed  are  they  which  are  called  unto  the  mar- 
riage supper  of  the  Lamb"  (Rev.  19:  9).  The 
husband  and  wife  "  shall  be  no  more  twain. 
Wherefore  they  are  no  more  twain,  but  one 
flesh"  (Matt.  19;  5;  Mark  10;  8).  "But  he  that 
is  joined  unto  the  Lord  is  one  spirit"  (i  Cor.  6: 
17).  "  For  we  are  members  of  His  body,  of  His 
flesh,  and  of  His  bones"  (Eph.  5:  30). 

Partakers  of  one  Spirit,  believers  are  one  with 
Christ.  Praying  for  them,  Christ  said,  "  They 
are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the 
world  *  *  *  sanctify  them  through  Thy  truth; 
Thy  word  is  truth.  *  *  *  That  they  all  may  be 
one;  as  Thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee, 


HUSBAND    AND    WIFF..  2  I  ;5 

that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us  *  *  *  I  in  them, 
and  Thou  in  me  "  (John  17:  16,  21). 


214  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


CHRIST  THE  CORNER-STONE. 

BELIEVERS     LIVING     STONES      BUILT     ON      HIM. 

Christ  and  His  Church  are  represented  in  the 
Scriptures  as  being  united,  as  a  holy  temple  in 
the  Lord.  His  people  are  said  to  be  built  up 
on  Him  as  living-  stones  on  a  living  corner- 
stone—the living  corner-stone  giving  support 
and  strength  to  the  whole  building;  uniting 
each  stone  with  Him,  and  with  one  another,  by 
one  Spirit  and  one  life. 

Christ  is  the  Foundation  of  all  of  our  knowl- 
edge of  God.  "  No  man  knoweth  the  Son,  but 
the  Father;  neither  knoweth  any  man  the 
Father,  save  the  Son,  and  he  to  whomsoever 
the  Son  will  reveal  Him"  (Matt,  ii:  27;  Luke 
10:  22).  "  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time; 
the  only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father,  He  hath  declared  Him"  (John 
I  :  18). 

Jesus  said,  "  I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life;  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father,  but  by 
me.  If  ye  had  known  me,  ye  should  have 
known  my  Father  also:  and  from  henceforth 
ye  know  Him,  and  have  seen  Him."  "  He  that 
hath  seen  me  hath  seen  the  Father"  (John 
14:  6,  9). 

Christ  is  the  Foundation  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures.    He  is  the   word,     "  In   the  beginning 


CHRIST    THE    CORNER-STONE.  215 

was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and 
the  Word  was  God."  "And  the  Word  was 
made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us  "(John  i:  i, 
14).  The  whole  Bible,  from  beginning  to  the 
end,  is  founded  on  Christ;  reveals  Christ;  and 
is  Christ. 

Christ  is  the  Foundation  of  the  Church. 
**  For  other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than 
that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ."  "  Know  ye 
not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God,  and  that  the 
Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in  you  ?  If  any  man  de- 
file the  temple  of  God,  him  shall  God  destroy; 
for  the  temple  of  God  is  holy,  which  temple  ye 
are  "  (i  Cor.  3:  11,  16). 

Seven  hundred  years  before  Chri:|t  came, 
Isaiah  wrote,  "  Therefore,  thus  saith  the  Lord 
God,  Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  a 
stone,  a  tried  stone,  a  precious  corner-stone,  a 
sure  foundation:  he  that  believe th  shall  not 
make  haste"  (Isai.  28:  16).  Peter,  quotmg 
this,  says,  "  Wherefore  also  it  is  contained  in 
the  Scripture,  Behold,  I  lay  in  Sion  a  chief 
corner-stone,  elect,  precious;  and  he  that  be- 
lieveth  on  Him  shall  not  be  confounded.  Unto 
you,  therefore,  which  believe  He  is  precious: 
but  unto  them  which  be  disobedient,  the  stone 
which  the  builders  disallowed,  the  same  is  made 
the  head  of  the  corner,  and  a  stone  of  stumbling, 
and  a  rock  of  offence,  even  to  them  which 
stumble  at  the  Word,  being  disobedient:  where- 
unto  also  they  were  appointed.  But  ye  are  a 
chosen  generation,  a  royal  priesthood,  a  holy 


2l6  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

nation,  a  peculiar  people;  that  ye  should  shew 
forth  the  praises  of  Him  who  hath  called  you 
out  of  darkness  into  His  marvellous  light" 
(i  Pet.  2:  6).  Before  this  he  writes,  "  But  the 
word  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever.  And  this 
is  the  Word  which,  by  the  Gospel,  is  preached 
unto  you.  Wherefore,  laying  aside  all  malice, 
and  all  guile,  and  hypocrisies,  and  envies,  and 
all  evil  speakings,  as  new-bom  babes,  desire 
the  sincere  milk  of  the  Word,  that  ye  may  grow 
thereby;  if  so  be  ye  have  tasted  that  the  Lord 
is  gracious.  To  whom  coming,  as  unto  a  living 
stone,  disallowed  indeed  of  men,  but  chosen  of 
God,  and  precious,  ye  also,  as  lively  stones,  are 
built  up.  a  spiritual  house,  a  holy  priesthood,  to* 
offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God 
by  Jesus  Christ"  (i  Pet.  i:  25;  2:  i). 

Christ  is  the  comer-stone  on  which  all  believ- 
ers are  built  as  living  stones.  "For  through 
Him  we  both  have  access  by  one  Spirit  unto  the 
Father. "  "And  are  built  upon  the  foundation 
of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  Him- 
self being  the  chief  corner-stone;  in  whom  all 
the  building  fitly  framed  together  groweth  unto 
a  holy  temple  in  the  Lord:  in  whom  ye  also  are 
builded  together  for  a  habitation  of  God  through 
the  Spirit"  (Eph.  2:  18,  20).  "  Rooted  and  built 
up  in  Him,  and  stablished  in  the  faith,  as  ye 
have  been  taught,  abounding  therein  with 
thanksgiving.  Beware  lest  any  man  spoil  you 
through  philosophy  and  vain  deceit,  after  the 
tradition  of  men,  after  the  rudiments  of  the 


CHRIST    THE   CORNER-STONE.  217 

world,  and  not  after  Christ.  For  in  Him  dwell- 
eth  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily.  And 
ye  are  complete  in  Him,  who  is  the  head  of  all 
principality  and  power"  (Col.  2:  7).  "But  let 
every  man  take  heed  how  he  buildeth  there- 
upon. For  other  foundation  can  no  man  lay 
than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ"  (i  Cor. 
3:  10). 


2l8  UNION    WITH    CHRIST, 


CHRIST  AND  BELIEVERS— SHEPHERD 
AND  SHEEP. 

In  many  parts  of  the  Holy  Scr.ptures,  the 
Old  Testament  and  the  New,  the  children  of 
God  are  called  sheep;  and  Jehovah,  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  is  called  their  Shepherd.  These 
passages  are  full  of  important  religious  truth, 
and  Christian  experience.  A  sheep  is  the  most 
helpless  and  defenceless  of  all  animals:  is  liable 
to  g-o  astray;  is  unable  to  find  its  way  back;  and 
needs  the  constant  watchful  care  of  the  shep- 
herd to  guard  it,  feed  it,  guide  it,  and  to  fetch  it 
back  when  astray.  Such  is  the  case  with  every 
child  of  God:  and  he  may  well  rejoice  that 
Jehovah,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  his  Shep- 
herd. 

As  a  sheep,  the  believer  has  heard  the  call  of 
Christ.  "He  calleth  His  own  sheep  by  name, 
and  leadeth  them  out."  He  knows  each  one  of 
His  sheep  individually  by  name.  "And  they 
follow  Him:  for  they  know  His  voice"  (John  lo: 
3).  He  has  called  them  out  of  Egypt,  the  world; 
and  delivered  them  from  Satan,  the  god  of  this 
world.  He  will  lead  them  through  the  wilder- 
ness, feed  them  with  the  heavenly  manna,  and 
carry  them  safely  to  the  promised  land.  "When 
the  Son  of  man  shall  come  in  His  glory,  and  all 
tlie   holy  angels  with  Him,   then   shall   He   sit 


SHEPHERD    AND    SHEEP.  219 

upon  the  throne  of  His  glory:  and  before  Him 
shall  be  gathered  all  nations:  and  He  shall  sep- 
arate them  one  from  another  as  a  shepherd 
divideth  his  sheep  from  the  goats:  and  He  shall 
set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the  goats 
on  the  left.  Then  shall  the  King  say  unto  them 
on  His  right  hand,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world"  (Matt.  25: 

31). 

God  "smote  all  the  firstborn  in  Egypt;  the 
chief  of  their  strength  in  the  tabernacles  of 
Ham:  but  made  His  own  people  to  go  forth  like 
sheep,  and  guided  them  in  the  wilderness  like 
a  flock"  (Psm.  78:  51).  "So  we  Thy  people  and 
sheep  of  Thy  pasture  will  give  Thee  thanks  for- 
ever: we  will  show  forth  Thy  praise  to  all 
generations"  (Psm.  79:  73).  "For  He  is  our 
God;  and  we  are  the  people  of  His  pasture,  and 
the  sheep  of  His  hand"  (Psm.  95:  7;  100:  3). 
The  experience  of  the  sheep  is  the  same  in  all 
ages.  The  Psalmist  writes,  "I  have  gone  astray 
like  a  lost  sheep"  (Psm.  119:  176).  Isaiah 
writes,  "All  we  like  sheep  have  gone  astray; 
we  have  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way;  and 
the  Lord  hath  laid  on  Kim  the  iniquity  of  us 
all"  (Isai.  53:  6).  Peter  writes,  "For  ye  were 
as  sheep  going  astray;  but  are  now  returned 
unto  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  your  souls"  (i 
Pet.  2:  25).  Before  Christ  came,  the  children  of 
Israel  were  the  visible  flock  of  God,  containing 
His  sheep.     They  were  often  led  astray  and 


220  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

scattered.  But  the  Shepherd  gathered  them. 
"For  thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Behold,  I,  even 
I,  will  both  search  my  sheep,  and  seek  them 
out.  As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out  his  flock  in 
the  day  that  he  is  among  his  sheep  that  are 
scattered;  so  will  I  seek  out  my  sheep,  and  will 
deliver  them  out  of  all  places  where  they  have 
been  scattered."  "I  will  seek  that  which  was 
lost,  and  bring  again  that  which  was  driven 
away,  and  will  bind  up  that  which  was  broken, 
and  will  strengthen  that  which  was  sick"  (Ezek. 
34:  12,  16).  "Behold,  the  Lord  God  will  come 
with  strong  hand,  and  His  arm  shall  rule  for 
Him:  behold  His  reward  is  with  Him,  and  His 
work  before  Him.  He  shall  feed  His  flock  like 
a  shepherd:  He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  His 
arm,  and  carry  them  in  His  bosom,  and  shall 
gently  lead  those  that  are  with  young"  (Isai.  40: 
10).  Not  one  of  Christ's  sheep  shall  ever  perish. 
Jesus  said,  "What  man  of  you,  having  a  hun- 
dred sheep,  if  he  lose  one  of  them,  doth  not 
leave  the  ninety  and  nine  in  the  wilderness,  and 
go  after  that  which  is  lost,  until  he  find  it  ?  and 
when  he  hath  found  it,  he  layeth  it  on  his 
shoulders,  rejoicing"  (Luke  15:  4;  Matt.  18:  12). 
In  all  ages  "wolves"  have  got  into  the  flock; 
even  acting  as  pastors  or  shepherds.  **Woe  be 
unto  the  pastors  that  destroy  and  scatter  the 
sheep  of  my  pasture!  saith  Jehovah"  (Jer.  23:  i- 
4).  "Woe  be  to  the  shepherds  of  Israel  that  do 
feed  themselves  !  should  not  the  shepherds  feed 
the  flock  ?"    "Thus  saith  the  Lord  God;  Behold, 


SHEPHERD    AND    SHEEP.  221 

I  am  against  the  shepherds;  and  I  will  require 
my  flock  at  their  hand,  and  cause  them  to  cease 
from  feeding  the  flock"  (Ezek.  34:  2-16).  When 
Christ  came,  He  sent  forth  His  apostles,  and 
commanded  them,  **  Go  not  into  the  way  of  the 
Gentiles,  and  into  any  city  of  the  Samaritans 
enter  ye  not:  but  go  rather  to  the  lost  sheep  of 
the  house  of  Israel"  (Matt.  10:  5).  On  another 
occasion,  "He  answered  and  said,  I  am  not  sent 
but  unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  hoiise  of  Israel" 
(Matt  15:  24).  He  afterwards  tells  them,  "Other 
sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of  this  fold:  them 
also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my  voice; 
and  there  shall  be  one  fold,  and  one  shepherd" 
(John  10:  16).  When  His  work  was  finished, 
and  He  was  about  to  ascend  to  His  throne  in 
the  heavens.  He  commanded  His  disciples  to 
disciple  all  nations,  and  gather  His  sheep  into 
other  folds. 

In  the  New  Testament  there  are  also  many 
warnings  against  false  shepherds.  The  elders 
of  the  church  in  Ephesus  were  directed  to  be 
faithful  in  guarding  the  flock  committed  to 
them.  "Take  heed,  therefore,  unto  yourselves, 
and  to  all  the  flock,  over  the  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  made  you  bishops  (or  overseers),  to 
feed  the  Church  of  God,  which  He  hath  pur- 
chased with  His  own  blood.  For  I  know  this, 
that  after  my  departing  shall  grievous  wolves 
enter  in  among  you,  not  sparing  the  flock.  Also 
of  your  own  selves  shall  men  arise,  speaking 
perverse  things,  to  draw  away  disciples  after 


222  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

them"  (Acts  20:  28).  Peter  exhorts  the  elders 
of  the  churches  or  co,ngregations  of  believers, 
"Feed  the  flock  of  God  which  is  among  you, 
taking  the  oversight  thereof,  not  by  constraint, 
but  willingly;  not  for  filthy  lucre,  but  of  a  ready 
mind;  neither  as  being  lords  over  God's  herit- 
age, but  being  ensamples  to  the  flock.  And 
when  the  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  ye  shall 
receive  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away" 
(i  Pet.  5:  i). 

The  teachings  in  the  Old  Testament  Script- 
ures referring  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the 
Great  Shepherd,  and  to  believers  as  His  sheep, 
should  be  received  and  fed  upon.  See  His 
leading  His  people  like  a  flock,  Psm.  23;  80:  i; 
79:  13;  Isai.  63:  II.  His  feeding  them  and  care 
for  the  lambs.  Isai.  40:  11,  gathering  His  flock 
out  of  all  countries;  bringing  them  into  His 
folds,  and  setting  up  shepherds  over  them  to 
feed  them.  Jer.  23:  3;  Ezek.  34:  11-16,  23.  The 
prophecies  that  He  should  die  for  His  sheep, 
Isai.  53,  and  that  He  was  equal  to  the  Father 
when  smitten,  give  spiritual  food.  "Awake,  O 
sword,  against  my  shepherd,  and  against  the 
man  that  is  my  fellow,  saith  Jehovah  of  hosts: 
smite  the  shepherd,  and  the  sheep  shall  be  scat- 
tered" (Zech.  13:  7).  Jesus  applies  such  pass- 
ages to  Himself.  The  night  He  was  betrayed, 
"Jesus  saith  unto  them,  All  ye  shall  be  offended 
because  of  me  this  night:  for  it  is  written,  I  will 
smite  the  shepherd,  and  the  sheep  of  the  flock 
shall  be  scattered  abroad"  (Matt.  26:  31;  Mark 
14:  27). 


SHEPHERD    AND    SHEEP.  223 

When  Christ  sent  forth  the  twelve  apostles, 
He  said  unto  them,  "Behold  I  send  yon  forth  as 
sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves"  (Matt.  lo:  i6). 
When  He  sent  out  the  seventy,  He  said,  "Behold 
I  send  you  forth  as  lambs  among-  wolves"  (Luke 
10:  3).  He  then  tells  them.  Be  ye  therefore 
wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves.  But 
beware  of  men:  for  they  will  deliver  you  up  to 
the  councils,  and  they  will  scourge  you  in  their 
synagogues;  and  ye  shall  be  brought  before 
governors  and  kings  for  my  sake,  for  a  testi- 
mony against  them  and  the  Gentiles.  But  when 
they  deliver  you  up,  take  no  thought  how  or 
what  ye  shall  speak:  for  it  shall  be  given  you  in 
that  same  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.  For  it  is 
not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your  Father 
which  speaketh  in  you"  (Matt.  lo:  i6).  "Ye 
shall  be  hated  of  all  men  for  my  name  sake" 
(Matt.  10:  22;  Mark  13: 13;  Luke  21:  17).  "Yea, 
the  time  cometh,  that  whosoever  killeth  you  will 
think  that  he  doeth  God  service"  (John  16:  2). 
"Woe  unto  you,  when  all  men  shall  speak  well 
of  you !  for  so  did  their  fathers  to  the  false 
prophets"  (Luke  6:  26).  "Fear  not  them  which 
kill  the  body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul: 
but  rather  fear  him  which  is  able  to  destroy 
both  soul  and  body  in  hell.  Are  not  two  spar- 
rows sold  for  a  farthing  ?  and  one  of  them  shall 
not  fall  on  the  ground  without  your  Father. 
But  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  num- 
bered. Fear  ye  not  therefore,  ye  are  of  more 
value  than  many  sparrows"  (Matt.  10:  28).    "In 


224  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation:  but  be  of 
good  cheer;  I  have  overcome  the  world"  (John 
i6:  33).  "Fear  not,  little  flock,  for  it  is  your 
Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  king- 
dom" (Luke  12:  32).  "Who  shall  separate  us 
from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall  tribulation,  or 
distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness, 
or  peril,  or  sword  ?  As  it  is  written,  For  Thy 
sake  we  are  killed  all  the  day  long;  we  are  ac- 
counted as  sheep  for  the  slaughter.  Nay,  in  all 
these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors 
through  Him  that  loved  us.  For  I  am  per- 
suaded, that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels, 
nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  pres- 
ent, nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth, 
nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate 
us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus 
our  Lord"  (Rom.  8:  36).  "Many  are  the  afflic- 
tions of  the  righteous:  but  Jehovah  delivereth 
him  out  of  them  all"  (Psm.  34:  19).  "For  oui^ 
light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment, 
worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  weight  of 
glory"  (2  Cor.  4:  17). 

"Then  said  Jesus  unto  them  again,  Verily, 
verily,  I  say  unto  you,  I  am  the  door  of  the 
sheep.  All  that  ever  came  before  me  are  thieves 
and  robbers:  but  the  sheep  did  not  hear  them. 
I  am  the  door:  by  me  if  any  man  enter  in,  he 
shall  be  saved,  and  shall  go  in  and  out,  and  find 
pasture.  *  *  *  I  am  the  good  shepherd:  the 
good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep. 
*    ♦    *    I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and  know  my 


SHEPHERD    AND    SHEEP.  32$ 

sheep,  and  am  known  of  mine.  As  the  Father 
knoweth  me,  even  so  know  I  the  F.ather:  and  I 
lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep.  And  other 
sheep  I  have,  which  are  not  of  this  fold:  them 
also  I  must  bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my  voice; 
and  there  shall  be  one  fold,  and  one  shepherd. 
Therefore  doth  my  Father  love  me,  because  I 
lay  down  my  life,  that  I  might  take  it  again. 
No  man  taketh  it  from  me,  but  I  lay  it  down  of 
myself.  I  have  power  to  lay  it  down,  and  I 
have  power  to  take  it  again.  *  ♦  *  My  sheep 
hear  my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  fol- 
low me:  and  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life:  and 
they  shall  never  perish,  and  no  one  shall  snatch 
them  out  of  my  hand.  My  Father,  which  hath 
given  them  unto  me,  is  greater  than  all;  and  no 
one  is  able  to  snatch  them  out  of  the  Father's 
hand.     I  and  the  Father  are  one"  (John  lo:  7, 

Believers  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  rejoice 
that  He  is  your  Shepherd;  nothing  can  harm 
you.  The  sheep  do  not  keep  the  shepherd,  but 
the  shepherd  keeps  the  sheep.  **  Behold,  he 
that  keepeth  Israel  shall  neither  slumber  nor 
sleep.  Jehovah  is  thy  keeper:  Jehovah  is  thy 
shade  upon  thy  right  hand.  The  sun  shall  not 
smite  thee  by  day,  nor  the  moon  by  night. 
Jehovah  shall  preserve  thee  from  all  evil:  He 
shall  preserve  thy  soul.  Jehovah  shall  preserve 
thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in  from  this  time 
forth  and  even  for  evermore"  (Psm.  121:  4). 
Your  Shepherd  is  on  the  throne  of  the  universe; 


226  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

you  are  safe  forever.  You  may  well  sing,  as 
David  did  a  thousand  years  before  Christ  came 
into  the  world,  a  song  filled  with  the  assurance 
of  faith  and  the  assurance  of  hope.  "For  all 
things  are  yours;  whether  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or 
Cephas,  or  the  world,  or  life,  or  death,  or  things 
present,  or  things  to  come;  all  are  yours;  and 
ye  are  Christ's;  and  Christ  is  God's"  (i  Cor.  3: 
21). 

Every  believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  can 
say,  "Jehovah  is  my  Shepherd;  I  shall  not  want. 
He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures: 
He  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters.  He 
restore th  my  soul:  He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths 
of  righteousness  for  His  name's  sake.  Yea, 
though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow 
of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil:  for  Thou  art  with 
me;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they  comfort  me. 
Thou  preparest  a  table  before  me  in  the  pres- 
ence of  mine  enemies:  Thou  anointest  my  head 
with  oil;  my  cup  runneth  over.  Surely  good- 
ness and  mercy  snail  follow  me  all  the  days  of 
my  life:  and  I  will  dwell  in  the  house  of  Jeho- 
vah forever"  (Psalm  23). 


BELIEVERS   MEMBERS   OF    HIS   BODY.  227 


CHRIST    THE    HEAD,  AND  BELIEVERS 
IN  HIM  MEMBERS  OF  HIS  BODY. 

The  Word  of  God  tells  us,  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  "  is  the  image  of  the  invisible  God, 
the  first-born  of  every  creature:  for  by  Him 
were  all  things  created,  that  are  in  heaven,  and 
that  are  in  earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether 
they  be  thrones,  or  dominions,  or  principalities, 
or  powers:  all  things  were  created  by  Him,  and 
for  him;  and  He  is  before  all  things,  and  by 
Him  all  things  consist.  And  He  is  the  head  of 
the  body,  the  Church"  (Col.  i:  15:  Heb.  i:  2,  3, 
8).  The  Church  is  said  to  be  the  body  of 
Christ;  and  every  believer  in  Him  is  a  particu- 
lar member  of  the  body  of  Christ.  Paul  writes 
to  the  church,  in  Ephesus,  "  I  cease  not  to  give 
thanks  for  you,  making  mention  of  you  in  my 
prayers:  that  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Father  of  glory,  may  give  unto  you  the 
spitit  of  wisdom  and  revelation  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  Him:  the  eyes  of  your  understanding 
being  enlightened,  that  ye  may  know  what  is 
the  hope  of  His  calling,  and  what  the  riches  of 
the  glory  of  His  heritance  in  the  saints,  and 
what  is  the  exceedmg  greatness  of  His  power 
to  US-ward  who  believe,  according  to  the  work- 
ing of  His  mighty  power,  which  He  wrought  in 
Christ,  when  He  raised  Him  from  the  dead,  and 


228  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

set  Him  at  His  own  right  hand  in  the  heavenly 
places,  far  above  all  principality,  and  power, 
and  might,  and  dominion,  and  every  name  that 
is  named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but  also  in 
that  which  is  to  come:  and  hath  put  all  things 
under  His  feet,  and  gave  Him  to  be  the  head 
over  all  things  to  the  church,  which  is  His  body, 
the  fulness  of  Him  that  filleth  all  in  all  "  (Eph. 
i:  i6). 

Believers  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  are  told, 
"  Now  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  members 
in  particular"  (i  Cor.  12:  27).  "For  as  we 
have  many  members  in  one  body,  and  all  mem- 
bers have  not  the  same  office:  so  we,  being 
many,  are  one  body  in  Christ,  and  every  one 
members  one  of  another  "  (Rom.  12:5).  '*  For, 
as  the  body  is  one,  and  hath  many  members, 
and  all  the  members  of  that  one  body,  being 
many,  are  one  body:  so  also  is  Christ.  For  by 
one  spirit  are  we  all  baptized  into  one  body, 
whether  we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  whether  we  be 
bond  or  free;  and  have  been  all  made  to  drink 
into  one  spirit.  For  the  body  is  not  one  mem- 
ber, but  many.  If  the  foot  shall  say.  Because  I 
am  not  the  hand,  I  am  not  of  the  body;  is  it 
therefore  not  of  the  body  ?  and  if  the  ear  shall 
say.  Because  I  am  not  the  eye,  I  am  not  of  the 
body;  is  it  therefore  not  of  the  body  ?  If  the 
whole  body  were  an  eye,  where  were  the  hear- 
ing ?  If  the  whole  were  hearing,  where  were 
the  smelling?  But  now  hath  God  set  the 
members  every  one  of  them  in  the  body,  as  it 


BELIEVERS    MEMBERS    OF    HIS    BODY.  229 

hath  pleased  Him.  And  if  they  were  all  one 
member,  where  were  the  body  ?  But  now  are 
they  many  members,  yet  but  one  body.  And 
the  eye  cannot  say  unto  the  hand,  I  have  no 
need  of  thee:  nor  again  the  head  to  the  feet,  I 
have  no  need  of  you.  Nay,  much  more  those 
members  of  the  body,  which  seem  to  be  more 
feeble  are  necessary"  (i  Cor.  12:  12). 

Rejoice,  humble  believer,  you  who  think  you 
have  only  one  talent,  or  think  you  have  none; 
if  you  believe  with  your  heart  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  you  are  a  member  of  His  body.  Every 
member  of  His  body,  however  insignificant  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world,  is  cared  for  by  Him.  For 
"  those  members  of  the  body  which  we  think  to 
be  less  honorable,  upon  these  we  bestow  the 
more  abundant  honor;  and  our  uncomely  parts 
have  more  abundant  comeliness.  For  our 
comely  parts  have  no  need:  but  God  hath  tem- 
pered the  body  together,  having  given  more 
abundant  honor  to  that  part  which  lacked:  that 
there  should  be  no  schism  in  the  body;  but  that 
the  members  should  have  the  same  care  one  for 
another.  And  whether  one  member  suffer,  all 
the  members  suffer  with  it;  or  one  member  be 
honored,  all  the  members  rejoice  with  it.  Now, 
ye  are  the  body  of  Christ,  and  members  in  par- 
ticular" *(i  Cor.  12:  23).  Believer  in  Christ, 
you  are  a  member  of  "  His  body,  of  His  flesh, 
and  of  His  bones  "  (Eph.  5:  30).  Nothing  can 
touch  you,  or  harm  you,  without  Christ,  the 
head  of  the  body,   instantly  feeling  it;  nay. 


2^0  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

more,  knowing  beforehand  of  it;  and  He  will 
take  care  of  His  own  body.  So  you  need  not 
fear  things  present  or  things  to  come,  for  your 
Head  is  on  the  throne  of  the  universe.  ''  In 
Him  dwelleth  all  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
bodily.  And  ye  are  complete  in  Him,  which  is 
the  head  of  all  principality  and  power  "  (Col.  2 : 
9).  Christ  has  made  provision  for  His  body; 
that  every  member  is  not  only  cared  for  and 
protected,  but  that  it  should  grow  with  the  rest 
of  the  body.  Any  member  of  the  body  that 
does  not  grow  is  a  sad  sight.  To  pro- 
mote growth,  "  He  gave  some,  apostles;  and 
some,  prophets;  and  some,  evangelists;  and 
some,  pastors  and  teachers;  for  the  perfecting 
of  the  saints,  unto  the  work  of  ministering, 
unto  the  building  up  of  the  body  of  Christ:  till 
we  all  attain  unto  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and 
of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  full 
grown  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fulness  of  Christ:  that  we  maybe  no  longer 
children,  tossed  to  and  fro  and  carried  about 
with  every  wind  of  doctrine,  by  the  sleight  of 
men,  in  craftiness,  after  the  wiles  of  error;  but 
speaking  truth  in  love,  may  grow  up  in  all 
things  unto  Him,  which  is  the  head,  even 
Christ;  in  whom  all  the  body  fitly  framed  and 
knit  together  through  that  which  every  joint 
supplieth,  according  to  the  working  of  each 
several  part,  maketh  the  increase  of  the  body 
unto  the  building  up  of  itself  in  love  "  (Eph.  4: 
11).      "Let  no  man   therefore  judge  you  in 


BELIEVERS   MEMBERS  OF    HIS    BODY.  23 1 

meat,  or  in  drink,  or  in  respect  of  a  holyday,  or 
of  the  new  moon,  or  of  the  Sabbath  days 
which  are  a  shadow  of  things  to  come,  but  the 
body  is  of  Christ.  Let  no  man  beguile  you  of 
your  reward  in  a  voluntary  humility  and  wor- 
shipping of  angels,  intruding  into  those  things 
which  he  hath  not  seen,  vainly  puffed  up  by 
his  fleshly  mind,  and  not  holding  the  Head, 
from  which  all  the  body  by  joints  and  hands 
having  nourishment  ministered,  and  knit  to- 
gether, increaseth  with  the  increase  of  God. 
Wherefore  if  ye  be  dead  with  Christ  from  the 
rudiments  of  the  world,  why,  as  though  living 
in  the  world,  are  ye  subject  to  ordinances 
(touch  not  ;  taste  not ;  handle  not ;  which  all 
are  to  perish  with  the  using),  after  the  com- 
mandments and  doctrines  of  men  ?  Which 
things  have  indeed  a  shew  of  wisdom  in  will- 
worship  and  humility  and  neglecting  of  the 
body  ;  not  in  any  honor  to  the  satisfying  of  the 
flesh  "  (Col.  2  :  i6).  The  children  of  God  need 
these  warnings  that  they  may  not  be  misled  by 
infidel  teachers,  idolatrous  churches,  or  the 
churches  that  put  their  traditions  in  the  place 
of  the  Word  of  God. 

Bear  in  mind,  the  visible  Church  is  not  the 
body  of  Christ.  By  far  the  larger  part  of  the 
visible  Church  for  the  last  twelve  hundred 
years  has  been,  and  now  is,  Antichrist.  They 
only  are  members  of  the  body  of  Christ,  who 
believe  His  word  :  believe  in  Him  and  in  Him 
alone.     In  His  prayer  when  with  His  disciples, 


232  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

the  night  in  which  He  was  betrayed,  Jesus  said, 
"  I  have  manifested  thy  name  unto  the  men 
whom  thou  gavest  me  out  of  the  world  :  thine 
they  were  and  thou  gavest  them  to  me  ;  and 
they  have  kept  thy  word  ;  *  *  *  sanctify  them 
in  the  truth  ;  thy  word  is  truth.  *  *  *  Neither 
for  these  only  do  I  pray,  but  for  them  also  that 
shall  believe  on  me  through  their  word  ;  that 
they  may  all  be  one ;  even  as  thou.  Father,  art 
in  me,  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  in 
us  ;  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  didst 
send  me.  And  the  glory  which  thou  hast  given 
me  I  have  given  unto  them  ;  that  they  be  one, 
even  as  we  are  one  ;  I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me, 
that  they  may  be  perfected  into  one ;  that  the 
world  may  know  that  thou  didst  send  me,  and 
lovedst  them,  even  as  thou  lovedst  me"  (John 
17  :  6,  17,  20).  Believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  He  who  uttered  that  prayer  has  all 
power  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  Receiving  and 
believing  in  Him  you  become  a  child  of  God 
(John  i:  12)  ;  a  member  of  His  body.  You 
have  now  an  everlasting  life  (John  3  :  36).  All 
things  are  working  together  for  your  good 
(Rom.  8  :  28)  ;  nothing  can  separate  you  from 
His  love  (Rom.  8  :  39),  and  all  things  are  now 
yours  (i  Cor.  3,  22).  Therefore,  we  are  told  to 
grow  in  the  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  (2  Pet.  3  :  18). 
"  Grow  up  in  all  things  unto  him,  which  is  the 
head,  even  Christ "  (Eph.  4  :  15).  As  a  member 
of  His  body  and  a  partaker  of  His  Spirit  ;  as 


BELIEVERS   MEMBERS  OF    HIS   BODY.  233 

the  members  of  the  body  are  guided,  moved 
and  protected  by  the  head,  so  must  we  be  con- 
tinually "  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and 
finisher  of  our  faith,"  our  Head,  for  life,  for 
light,  for  guidance,  and  for  protection.  United 
to  Him  as  members  of  His  body,  let  Him  work 
through  us :  and  let  us  give  Him  the  glory. 
He  will  not  allow  any  member  of  His  body  to 
be  lost.  He  has  said,  "  Because  I  live,  ye  shall 
live  also*'  (John  14:  19).  "Be  strong  in  the 
Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his  might "  (Eph. 
6  :  10).  Say  with  Paul,  "  I  can  do  all  things 
through  Christ  which  strengtheth  me  "  (Phil. 
4  :  13).  Members  of  the  body  of  Christ  "should 
have  the  same  care  one  for  another.  And 
whether  one  member  suffer,  all  the  members 
suffer  with  it ;  or  one  member  be  honored,  all 
the  members  rejoice  with  it.  Now  ye  are  the 
body  of  Christ,  and  members  in  particular." 
(i  Cor.  12  :  25), 


234  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


CHRIST  THE  VINE,   BELIEVERS   IN 
HIM  THE  BRANCHES. 

One  of  the  most  instructive  of  the  many  illus- 
trations in  the  Bible  of  the  union  of  Christ  and 
believers  is  that  of  the  Vine  and  its  branches. 
Christ  calls  Himself  the  true  Vine  ;  and  be- 
lievers in  Him,  the  branches.  It  teaches  that 
there  must  be  a  continued  living  union  between 
them,  that  our  life  is  in  Him,  and  from  Him ; 
and  that  separated  from  Him  there  is  no  spirit- 
ual life,  no  spiritual  growth,  no  fruit  or  good 
works  that  glorify  God,  or  are  acceptable  to 
God.  **  Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please 
Him"(Heb.  ii  :  6).  "In  Jesus  Christ,  neither 
circumcision  availeth  anything,  nor  incircum- 
cision  ;  but  faith  which  worketh  by  love  "  (Gal. 
5:6).  "Whatsoever  is  not  of  faith  is  sin " 
(Rom.  14:  23).  Faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
will  show  itself  in  bearing  fruit,  in  good  works. 
"Faith  without  works  is  dead"  (James  i:  17,20). 
By  faith  we  accept  Christ ;  by  faith  we  abide  in 
Him.  He  says,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest.  Take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of 
me  ;  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly  in  heart,  and  ye 
shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls.  For  my  yoke  is 
easy,  and  my  burden  is  light"  (Matt.  11  :  28). 


THE    VINE    AND    THE    BRANCHES.  235 

When  He  was  on  earth,  He  told  His  disciples 
to  follow  Him.  He  now  invites  us  not  only  to 
come  to  Him,  and  cast  all  our  burdens,  all  our 
sins  on  Him ;  but  He  adds.  Abide  in  me,  and 
He  promises  to  abide  in  us,  thus  making  us 
one  with  Him,  that  we  may  have  in  Him  con- 
tinued life,  nourishment  and  growth,  and  thus 
produce  fruit  to  the  glory  of  God.  Jesus  had 
just  told  His  disciples  that  He  would  come 
with  the  Father  and  abide  with  them.  He  also 
promised  that  the  Holy  Spirit  would  abide  in 
them.  **  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  he  that 
believeth  on  me,  the  works  that  I  do  shall  he 
do  also;  and  greater  works  than  these  shall  he 
do;  because  I  go  unto  my  father.  And  whatso- 
ever ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I  do, 
that  the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son. 
If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my  name,  I  will  do 
it.  If  ye  love  me  keep  my  commandments. 
And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give 
you  another  Comforter  that  he  may  abide  with 
you  forever.  *  *  *  I  will  not  leave  you  com- 
fortless (orphans).  I  will  come  to  you.  Yet  a 
little  while,  and  the  world  seeth  me  no  more, 
but  ye  see  me  :  because  I  live  ye  shall  live  also. 
At  that  day  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  my 
Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in  you."  *  *  *  Judas 
saith  unto  Him,  not  Iscariot,  Lord,  how  is  it 
that  Thou  wilt  manifest  Thyself  unto  us,  and 
not  unto  the  world  ?  Jesus  answered,  and  said 
unto  him,  "If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my 
words:  and  my  Father  will  love  him,  and  we  will 


236  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him  " 
(John  14  :  12,  18,  22).  These  promises  depend 
on  our  coming-  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  know- 
ing Him,  receiving  Him,  believing  in  Him, 
loving  Him,  keeping  His  word,  keeping  His 
commandments,  and  abiding  in  Him.  Instead 
of  thinking  of  a  dead  Christ,  of  a  far  distant 
Christ,  of  a  child  Christ,  of  a  Christ  on  the 
cross  as  too  many  do,  the  believer  can  know  a 
living,  loving,  everpresent  Christ,  who  abides 
in  him,  and  in  whom  he  abides.  He  believes 
His  words,  "  I  am  the  true  Vine,  and  my  Father 
is  the  husbandman.  Every  branch  in  me  that 
beareth  not  fruit  he  taketh  away :  and  every 
branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  cleanseth  it,  that 
it  may  bear  more  fruit.  Already  ye  are  clean 
because  of  the  word  which  I  have  spoken  unto 
you.  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.  As  the  branch 
cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself  except  it  abide  in  the 
vine  ;  so  neither  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me. 
I  am  the  Vine,  ye  are  the  branches  ;  he  that 
abideth  in  me,  and  I  in  him,  the  same  bringeth 
forth  much  fruit :  for  apart  from  me  ye  can 
do  nothing.  If  a  man  abide  not  in  me,  he  is 
cast  forth  as  a  branch,  and  is  withered  ;  and 
men  gather  them,  and  cast  them  into  the  fire, 
and  they  are  burned.  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and 
my  words  abide  in  you,  ask  whatsoever  ye  will, 
and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you.  Herein  is  my 
Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit;  and 
so  shall  ye  be  my  disciples.  Even  as  the  Father 
hath  loved  me,  I  also  have  loved  you  :  abide  ye 


THE    VINE    AND    THE    BRANCHES.  237 

in  my  love.  If  ye  keep  my  commandments,  ye 
shall  abide  in  my  love;  even  as  I  have  kept  my 
Father's  commandments,  and  abide  in  his 
love.  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
that  my  joy  may  be  in  you,  and  that  your  joy 
may  be  fulfilled.  This  is  my  commandment, 
that  ye  love  one  another,  as  I  have  loved  you  " 
(John  15  :  i).  Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I 
have  chosen  you,  and  ordained  you,  that  ye 
should  go  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your 
fruit  should  remain  :  that  whatsoever  ye  shall 
ask  of  the  Father  in  my  name,  he  may  give  it  to 
you"  (John  15  :  16  ;  16:  23).  "Verily,  verily, 
I  say  unto  you,  he  that  believeth  on  me,  the 
works  that  I  do  shall  he  do  also;  and  greater 
works  than  these  shall  he  do;  because  T  go  unto 
my  Father.  And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my 
name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father  may  be 
glorified  in  the  Son.  If  ye  shall  ask  anything 
in  my  name,  I  will  do  it "  (John  14:  12).  "What 
ye  will."  "Whatsoever."  "Anything."  Be- 
lieving in  Christ,  we  believe  His  promises 
made  to  us.  We  can  "  go  boldly  "  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  with  the  certainty  of  having  what  we 
ask  in  His  name.  We  do  not  go  merely  as  sup- 
pliants for  ourselves,  or  as  suppliants  for  Him  ; 
but  we  have  His  authority  to  ask  in  His  name. 
"Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will 
I  do." 

We  must  remember  that  these  promises, 
again  and  again  repeated,  depend  on  our  union 
with  Him;  drawing  life  from  Him;  partaking  of 


238  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

His  Spirit;  moved  by  Him;  He  praying  through 
us,  the  Spirit  helping  our  infirmities;  for  we 
know  not  what  we  should  pray  for  as  we  ought. 
(Rom.  8:  26)  Then  it  will  be  Christ  praying 
through  us.  We  shall  ask  only  according  to  His 
will;  and  it  will  be  done  for  us.  Believing  these 
words,  the  child  of  God  looks  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  for  everything;  lives  moment  by  moment 
by  faith  in  Him;  draws  life  from  Him,  as  the 
branchfrom  the  vine;  feeds  upon  His  word,  and 
is  constantly  growing  in  spiritual  strength  by 
His  Spirit  working  in  him;  and  thus  produces 
fruit  to  the  glory  of  God  abundantly.  Paul,  writ- 
ing of  the  casting  away  of  some  of  the  Jews,  and 
the  introduction  of  the  Gentiles  into  the  church, 
says,  "If  the  root  is  holy,  so  are  the  branches.  But 
if  some  of  the  branches  were  broken  off,  and  thou, 
being  a  wild  olive,  wast  grafted  in  among  them, 
and  didst  become  partaker  with  them  of  the 
root  of  the  fatness  of  the  olive  tree;  glory  not 
over  the  branches;  but  if  thou  gloriest,  it  is  not 
thou  that  bearest  the  root,  but  the  root  thee." 
(Rom.  11:  16). 

The  believer  may  well  rejoice  that  he  is  a 
branch  of  the  Vine  and  that  Jehovah  is  the 
husbandman.  "  The  vineyard  of  the  Lord  of 
Hosts  is  the  house  of  Israel  "  (Lsai.  5:7).  *'Thou 
hast  brought  a  vine  out  of  Egypt;  *  *  *  Re- 
turn, we  beseech  thee,  O  God  of  Hosts  look 
down  from  heaven,  and  behold,  and  visit  the 
vine;  and  the  vineyard  which  thy  right  hand 
hath  planted,  and  the  branch  that  thou  madest 


THE    VINE    AND    THE    BRANCHES.  239 

Strong  for  thyself"  (Psm.  80:  8,  14).  "In  that 
day  sing  ye  unto  her,  a  vineyard  of  red  wine.  I 
the  Lord  do  keep  it;  I  will  water  it  every 
moment :  lest  any  hurt  it,  I  will  keep  it  night 
and  day"  (Isai.  27:  2).  Christ  says:  "My 
Father  is  the  husbandman.  Every  branch  in 
me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  He  taketh  away;  and 
every  branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  cleanseth  it, 
that  it  may  bear  more  fruit."  "Herein  is  my 
Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit;  and 
so  shall  ye  be  my  disciples"  (John  15:  i,  8). 

The  Parable  thus  teaches  us  another  very 
important  truth.  The  child  of  God  must  suffer 
in  this  life.  He  must  be  pruned  that  he  may 
bear  fruit.  "  Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth 
not  fruit.  He  taketh  away :  and  every  branch 
that  beareth  fruit,  He  purgeth  it,  that  it  may 
bring  forth  more  fruit"  (John  15:  2).  The 
Psalmist  wrote,  "Many  are  the  afflictions  of  the 
righteous;  but  the  Lord  delivereth  him  out  of 
them  all"  (Psm.  34:  19).  "  Before  I  was  afflicted 
I  went  astray;  but  now  have  I  kept  Thy  word." 
"It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted, 
that  I  might  learn  Thy  statutes."  "  I  know,  O 
Lord,  that  Thy  judgments  are  right,  and 
that  Thou  in  faithfulness  hast  afflicted  me" 
(Psm.  119:  67,  71,  75).  The  child  of  God  can 
look  upon  the  removal  of  loved  ones,  the  loss 
of  health,  of  propert)'',  as  prunings  of  God  for 
our  better  fruit  bearing,  and  for  His  glory. 
Christians  are  made  partakers  of  the  sufferings 
of  Christ,  not  only  those  He  endured  for  them, 


24©  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

but  they  also  are  to  suffer  for  His  sake.  "For 
unto  you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not 
only  to  believe  on  Him,  but  also  to  suffer  for 
His  sake"  (Phil,  i:  29).  "  If  we  suffer,  we  shall 
also  reign  with  Him"  (2  Tim.  2:12).  "  But  re- 
joice, inasmuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's 
sufferings;  that  when  His  glory  shall  be  re- 
vealed, ye  may  be  glad  also  with  exceeding  joy" 
(i  Pet.  4:  13).  "But  the  God  of  all  grace,  who 
hath  called  us  unto  his  eternal  glory  by  Christ 
Jesus,  after  that  ye  have  suffered  a  while,  make 
you  perfect,  stablish,  strengthen,  settle  you" 
(i  Pet.  5:  10). 

As  the  wind  shaking  the  tree  causes  it  to 
extend  its  roots  deeper  into  the  soil,  so  afflic- 
tions to  the  Christian  causes  him  to  cling  more 
closely  to  Christ.  One  of  the  greatest  gifts  of 
the  Spirit  to  the  Christian,  producing  the  most 
precious  fruit,  is  patience  and  long  suffering. 
"  That  ye  might  walk  worthy  of  the  Lord  unto 
all  pleasing,  being  fruitful  in  every  good  work, 
and  increasing  in  the  knowledge  of  God; 
strengthened  with  all  might,  according  to  His 
glorious  power,  unto  all  patience  and  long  suf- 
fering with  joyfulness"  (Col.  i:  9).  "Strength- 
ened with  might  by  His  Spirit  in  the  inner  man; 
that  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith; 
that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love, 
*  *  *  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 
passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled  with 
all  the  fullness  of  God"  (Eph.  3:  16).  "  As  ye 
have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord, 


THE    VINE    AND    THE    BRANCHES.  241 

SO  walk  in  Him;  rooted  and  built  up   in    Him 
and  stablished  in  the  faith"  (Col.  2:  6). 

United  to  Christ,  as  a  branch  is  united  to  the 
vine,  and  having  Christ  and  the  Holy  Spirit 
abiding  in  you,  you  can  say,  **  I  am  crucified 
with  Christ,  nevertheless  I  live;  yet  not  I,  but 
Christ  liveth  in  me:  and  the  life  which  I  now 
live  in  the  flesh  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of 
God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  Himself  for  me" 
(Gal.  2:  20).  As  a  living  branch  in  the  true 
Vine  you  will  bear  fruit.  "Herein  is  My 
Father  glorified  that  ye  bear  much  fruit;  so 
shall  ye  be  My  disciples"  (John  15:  8).  **He 
that  keepeth  His  commandments  dwelleth  in 
Him,  and  He  in  him.  And  hereby  we  know 
that  He  abideth  in  us  by  the  Spirit  which  He 
had  given  us"  (i  John  3:  24).  "  He  that  saith 
he  abideth  in  Him,  ought  himself  so  to  walk, 
even  as  He  walked"  (i  John  2:  6).  "And  now, 
little  children,  abide  in  Him;  that,  when  He  shall 
appear,  we  may  have  confidence,  and  not  be 
ashamed  before  Him  at  His  coming"  (i  John  2: 
28). 


242  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 


UNION   OF  BELIEVERS   WITH   CHRIST, 

AND  THE  HOLY  SPIRIT  AND  THE 

FATHER.     ONE  IN  GOD. 

Christ  told  His  disciples  *'Ye  shall  be  brought 
before  governors  and  kings  for  My  sake,  for  a 
testimony  against  them  and  the  Gentiles.  But 
when  they  deliver  you  up,  take  no  thought  how 
or  what  ye  shall  speak;  for  it  shall  be  given 
you  in  that  same  hour  what  ye  shall  speak.  For 
"  it  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Spirit  of  your 
Father  which  speaketh  in  you"  (Matt.  lo:  i8). 
**It  is  not  ye  that  speak,  but  the  Holy  Ghost" 
(Mark  13:  11).  In  His  last  talk  with  His  disci- 
ples before  His  crucifixion  He  said  to  them  that 
He  was  going  to  leave  them  for  a  time,  and 
would  come  again;  and  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
would  come  and  abide  with  them.  He  said, 
'*  If  ye  love  Me,  ye  will  keep  My  command- 
ments. And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  He 
shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that  He  may 
be  with  you  forever,  even  the  Spirit  of  truth : 
whom  the  world  cannot  receive;  for  it  behold- 
eth  Him  not,  neither  knoweth  Him;  ye  know 
Him;  for  He  abideth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in 
you.  I  will  not  leave  you  desolate  (orphans); 
I  will  come  unto  you.  Yet  a  little  while  and 
the  world  beholdeth  Me  no  more;  but  ye  be- 
hold Me;  because   I  live,  ye  shall  live   also" 


ONE  IN  CHRIST  AND  THE  FATHER.  24^ 

(John  14:  15).  "The  Comforter,  even  the  IJoly 
Spirit,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in  My  name, 
He  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  to  your 
remembrance  all  that  I  said  unto  you"  (John 
14:  26).  *'When  the  Comforter  is  come,  whom 
I  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  even  the 
Spirit  of  truth,  which  proceedeth  from  the 
Father,  He  shall  bear  witness  of  Me"  (John  15: 
26).  **  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go  away; 
for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not 
come  unto  you;  but  if  I  go,  I  will  send  Him 
unto  you.  *  *  *  When  He,  the  Spirit  of  truth, 
is  come,  He  shall  guide  you  into  all  truth" 
(John  16:  7, 13). 

The  believer  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  re- 
ceives the  Holy  Spirit  to  abide  in  him  forever. 
In  fact,  he  is  made  a  believer  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  and  is  born  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Jesus 
told  Nicodemus,  a  ruler,  an  officer  in  the  Church 
"Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except  a  man 
be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of 
God."  "Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  except 
a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit  he 
cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God"  (John  3: 
3,  5).  John  writes:  "As  many  as  received  Him, 
to  them  He  gave  the  right  to  become  children 
of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on  His  name; 
which  were  born  (begotten),  not  of  blood,  nor 
of  the  will  of  the  flesh,  nor  of  the  will  of  man, 
but  of  God"  (John  i:  12). 

The  Holy  Spirit,  dwelling  in  believers,  pro- 
duces all  spiritual  life.    "Ye  are  not  in  the  flesh. 


244  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

but  in  the  Spirit,  if  so  be  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwelleth  in  you.  But  if  any  man  hath  not  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  His"  *  *  *  ''But 
if  the  Spirit  of  Him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from 
the  dead  dwelleth  in  you,  He  that  raised  up 
Christ  Jesus  from  the  dead  shall  quicken  also 
your  mortal  bodies  through  His  Spirit  that 
dwelleth  in  you."  *  *  *  «  For  as  many  as  are 
led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  these  are  the  sons  of 
God."  *  *  *  "The  Spirit  Himself  beareth  wit- 
ness with  our  spirit  that  we  are  children  of 
God;  and  if  children,  then  heirs;  heirs  of  God, 
and  joint  heirs  with  Christ."  *  *  *  "The  Spirit 
also  helpeth  our  infirmity;  for  we  know  not  how 
to  pray  as  we  ought;  but  the  Spirit  Himself 
maketh  intercession  for  us  with  groanings 
which  cannot  be  uttered;  and  he  that  searcheth 
the  hearts  knoweth  what  is  the  mind  of  the 
Spirit,  because  He  maketh  intercession  for  the 
saints  according  to  the  will  of  God"  (Rom.  8:  9, 
II,  14,  16,  26). 

Christian  works,  or  fruit,  although  coming 
through  the  branches  from  Christ,  the  Vine,  are 
ascribed  to  the  Holy  Spirit.  **  The  fruit  of  the 
bpiiit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  long  suffering,  kind- 
ness, goodness,  faithfulness,  meekness,  temper- 
ance" (Gal.  5:  22). 

Spiritual  gifts  are  also  ascribed  to  the  Holy 
Spirit.  "To  one  is  given  by  the  Spirit  the 
word  of  wisdom;  to  another  the  word  of  knowl- 
edge by  the  same  Spirit;  to  another  faith  by  the 
same  Spirit;  to  another  the  gifts  of  healing  by 


ONE  IN  CHRIST  AND  THE  FATHER.  245 

the  same  Spirit;  to  another  the  working  of  mir- 
acles; to  another  prophecy;  to  another  discerning 
of  spirits:  to  another  divers  kinds  of  tongues; 
to  another  the  interpretation  of  tongues;  but 
all  these  worketh  that  one  and  the  selfsame 
Spirit,  dividing  to  every  man  severally  as  he 
will"  (i  Cor.  12:  8). 

Believers  will  remember  that  the  Holy  Spirit 
is  not  an  influence  of  God,  but  is  a  person  in  the 
Godhead.  We  are  to  be  baptized  **into  the 
name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost"  (Matt.  28:  19).  The  benediction 
is,  "  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
the  love  of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  be  with  you  all.     Amen."  (2  r.Co 

13:  14). 

The  Lord  Jesus  has  told  us  that  the  Holy 
Ghost  would  personally  come  and  dwell  in  us. 
Believers  are  warned,  "Grieve  not  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  God,  in  whom  ye  were  sealed  unto  the 
day  of  redemption"  (Eph.  4:  30).  *-Quench  not 
the  Spirit"  (i  Thess.  5:  19).  Unbelievers  are 
told  that,  "whosoever  shall  blaspheme  against 
the  Holy  Spirit  hath  never  forgiveness,  but  is 
guilty  of  an  eternal  sin"  (Mark  3:  29).  "Who- 
soever shall  speak  against  the  Holy  Spirit,  it 
shall  not  be  forgiven  him,  neither  in  this  world, 
nor  in  that  which  is  to  come"  (Matt.  12:  32). 

The  Temple,  with  its  priesthood  and  ceremo- 
nial service,  having  served  as  a  type,  has  passed 
away.  As  Christ  told  the  woman  of  Samaria, 
'•Ye  shall  neither  in  this  mountain,  nor  yet  at 


246  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Jerusalem,  worship  the  Father.  *  *  *  God  is  a 
Spirit:  and  they  that  worship  Him  must  wor- 
ship Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth"  (John  4:  21,  24). 
Isaiah  700  years  before  Christ  wrote,  "  For  thus 
saith  the  high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth 
eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy;  I  dwell  in  the 
high  and  holy  place,  with  him  also  that  is  of  a 
contrite  and  humble  spirit;  to  revive  the  spirit 
of  the  humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the 
contrite  ones"  (Isai.  57:  15).  Paul  tells  the 
Athenians,  "God  that  made  the  world  and  all 
things  therein,  seeing  that  He  is  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with 
hands;  neither  is  worshipped  with  men's  hands 
as  though  He  needed  anything,  seeing  He  giv- 
eth  to  all  life,  and  breath,  and  all  things.  ♦  *  * 
for  in  Him  we  live,  and  more,  and  have  our  be- 
ing" (Acts.  17:  24,  28).  The  children  of  God 
are  now  the  temple  of  God;  for  God  the  Holy 
Ghost  abides  in  them,  "  know  ye  not  that  ye  are 
the  temple  of  God,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwelleth  in  you  ?"  (i  Cor.  3:  16).  "What!  know 
ye  not  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  which  is  in  you,  which  ye  have  of  God, 
and  ye  are  not  your  own  ?  For  ye  are  bought 
with  a  price:  therefore  glorify  God  in  your 
body,  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are  God's"  (i 
Cor.  6:  19).  "Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  to- 
gether with  unbelievers:  for  what  fellowship 
hath  righteousness  with  unrighteousness  ?  and 
what  communion  hath  light  with  darkness  ?  and 
what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial  ?  or  what 


ONE  IN  CHRIST  AND  THE  FATHER.  247 

part  hath  he  that  believeth  with  an  infidel  ?  And 
what  agreement  hath  the  temple  of  God  with 
idols  ?  for  ye  are  the  temple  of  the  living  God; 
as  God  hath  said,  I  will  dwell  in  them,  and 
walk  in  them;  and  I  will  be  their  God,  and  they 
shall  be  my  people.  Wherefore  come  out  from 
among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the 
Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing:  and  I 
will  receive  you,  and  will  be  a  Father  unto  you, 
and  ye  shall  be  My  sons,  and  daughters,  saith 
the  Lord  Almighty"  (2  Cor.  6:  16). 

Receiving  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  united 
to  Him,  as  the  hand  or  foot  is  to  the  head  of  the 
body;  drawing  life  from  Him,  as  the  branch 
does  from  the  vine;  and  having  the  Holy  Spirit 
dwelling  in  us,  making  us  the  temple  of  God; 
we  can  say  **  truly  our  fellowship  is  with  the 
Father,  and  His  Son  Jesus  Christ.  *  *  *  If  we 
walk  in  the  light,  as  He  is  in  the  light,  we  have 
fellowship  one  with  another"  (i  John  i:  3,  7). 

Union  with  Christ  is  union  with  all  those  who 
believe  in  Christ,  and  who  walk  in  the  light, 
as  He  is  in  the  light."  It  is  not  a  union  with  in- 
fidel or  idolatrous  churches  calling  themselves 
Christian.  The  prayer  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
has  been  fulfilled  ever  since  it  was  uttered. 
"  Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for  them 
also  which  shall  believe  on  Me  through  their 
word;  that  they  all  may  be  one;  as  thou, 
Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they  also 
may  be  one  in  us:  that  the  world  may  believe 
that  Thou  hast  sent  Me.     And  the  glory  which 


248  UNION    WITH    CHRIST. 

Thou  gavest  Me  I  have  given  them;  that  they 
may  be  one,  even  as  We  are  one:  I  in  them,  and 
Thou  in  Me;  that  they  may  be  perfect  in  one; 
and  that  the  world  may  know  that  Thou  hast 
sent  Me,  and  has  loved  them,  as  Thou  hast 
loved  Me"  (John  17:  20). 

As  a  member  of  the  body  of  Christ,  as  a 
branch  of  the  Vine  Christ,  as  the  temple  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  as  one  with  Christ,  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  with  the  Father:  the  believer  is  one 
with  God.  Although  he  may,  for  his  own  eter- 
nal good,  and  for  the  glory  of  God,  be  called  to 
suffer  pain,  poverty,  sickness,  bereavement, 
persecution,  and  bodily  death;  yet  he  knows 
that  all  these  things  and  all  other  things  are 
working  together  for  his  good;  that  all  things 
present  and  to  come  are  now  his;  and  that  he 
has  now  an  everlasting  life,  which  no  being  can 
take  from  him;  for  his  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in 
God.  When  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  ap- 
pear, then  shall  ye  also  appear  with  Him  in 
glory"  (Col.  3:  3).  "Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am 
with  thee;  be  not  disrnayed,  for  I  am  thy  God. 
I  will  strengthen  thee;  yea,  I  will  help  thee; 
yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of 
My  righteousness.  For  I,  Jehovah,  thy  God 
will  hold  thy  right  hand,  saying  unto  thee: 
Fear  not,  I  will  help  thee"  (Isai.  41:  10,  13,  14). 
"When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will 
be  with  thee;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall 
not  overflow  thee;  when  thou  walkest  through 
the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned;  neither  shall 


ONE  IN  CHRIST  AND  THE  FATHER.  249 

the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.  For  I  am  Jehovah, 
thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  Saviour" 
(Isai.  43:  3).  "He  hath  said,  I  will  never  leave 
thee,  not  forsake  thee"  (Heb.  13:  5).  "Because 
I  live,  ye  shall  live  also'*  (John  14:  19). 

"Now  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again 
from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that  great  Shep- 
herd of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the 
everlasting  Covenant,  make  you  perfect  in 
every  good  work  to  do  His  will,  working  in  you 
that  which  is  well  pleasing  in  His  sight,  through 
Jesus  Christ;  to  whom  be  glory  for  ever  and 
ever.     Amen."  (Heb.  13:  20). 

"  Soul,  then  know  thy  full  salvation. 

Rise  o'er  sin,  and  fear  and  care; 
Joy,  to  find  in  every  station 

Something  still  to  do  or  bear. 
Think  what  Spirit  dwells  within  thee; 

Think  what  Father's  smiles  are  thine; 
Think  that  Jesus  died  to  win  thee! 
Child  of  God,  canst  thou  repine?" 

"  Haste  thee  on  from  grace  to  glory. 

Armed  by  faith,  and  winged  by  prayer! 
Heaven's  eternal  day's  before  thee, 

God's  own  hand  shall  guide  thee  there. 
Soon  shall  close  thy  earthly  mission. 

Soon  shall  pass  thy  pilgrim  days, 
Hope  shall  change  to  glad  fruition. 

Faith  to  sight,  and  prayer  to  praise." 


THE  "I  AM''  OF  JESUS. 


Before  Abraham  was,  I  am. — 
John  8:  58. 

I  am  the  light  of  the  world.— 
John  8:  12. 

I  am  the  door. — John  10:  7. 

I  am  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 
life.-John  14:  6 

I  am  the  living  bread. — John  6-  51 

I  am  the  bread  of  life.— John  6  35 

I  am  the  true  vine. — John  15:  1, 

I  am  the  good  shepherd. — John 
10:  11,  14. 

I  am  the  resurrection,  and  the 
life.-John  11:  25. 

1  am  with  you  alway.— Matt.28  20 


I  am. with  thee. — Acts  18:  10, 

There  am  T  in  the  midst  of  them. 
—Matt.  18:  20. 

I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  be- 
ginning and  the  ending. — Rev.  1:  &. 

I  am  the  first  and  the  last.— Rev. 
1:  17. 

I  am  from  above I  am  not 

of  this  world.— John  g:  23. 

I  am  alive  for  evermore.— Rev. 
1:  18. 

I  am  Jesus  whom  thou  perse- 
cutest.— Acts  9:  5. 

Be  with  me  where  I  am.— John 
17:  24. 


THE  *'ME"  OF  JESUS. 


Ye  believe  in  God,  believe  also  in 
me.— John  14:  1. 

All  things  are  delivered  unto  me. 
—Matt.  11:  27. 

All  power  is  given  unto  me  in 
heaven  and  in  earth.— Matt.  28  18. 

He  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen 
the  Father.— John  14:  9. 

Whosoever  liveth  and  believeth 
in  me  shall  never  die. — John  11:  26. 

He  that  believeth  on  me  hath 
everlasting  life.-John  6:  47. 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labour 
and  are  heavy  laden. — Matt.  11:  28. 

Him  that  comcth  to  me  I  will  m 
no  wise  cast  out. — John  vi:  37. 

He  that  Cometh  to  me  shall  never 
hunger. — John  6:  35. 

He  that  believeth  on  me  shall 
never  thirst. — John  6:  35. 

No  man  cometh  unto  the  Father, 
but  by  me.— 'John  14:  6. 

In  me  ye  might  have  peace. — 
John  16:  33. 

By  me  if  any  man  enter  in,  he 
shall  be  saved.— John  10:  9. 

Follow  me.— Matt.  8:  22  ;  9:  9  ; 
Mark  8:  34;   10:  21. 

Follow  me,  and  I  will  make  you 
fishers  of  men. — Matt.  4:  19. 

He  that  followeth  me  shall  not 
walk  in  darkness. — John  8:  12. 

They  follow  me:  and  I  give  unto 
them  eternal  life.-John  10:  27,  28. 

Abide  in  me,  and  I  in  you.— John 
15:  4. 

Ye  did  it  not  to  me.— Matt.  25:45. 


He  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in 
him. — John  15:  5. 

Without  me  ye  can  do  nothing. 
—John  15:  5. 

As  thou  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I 
in  thee.— John  17:  21. 

He  that  eateth  me,  even  he  shall 
live  by  me.— John  6  :  57. 

.Suffer  the  httle  children  to  come 
unto  me.— Mark  10:  14. 

Learn  of  me.— Matt.  11:  29. 

Whosoever  will  come  after  me.— 
Mark  8:  34. 

Ye  have  done  it  unto  me, — Matt. 
25:  40. 

If  any  man  serve  me,  let  him  fol- 
low me.— John  12:  26. 

He  that  receiveth  you  receiveth 
me.— Matt.  10:  40. 

He  that  loveth  father  or  mother 
more  that  me. — Matt.  10:  37. 

He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against 
me.— Matt.  12.  30. 

He  that  gathertth  not  with  me 
scattereth.— Matt,  12:  30. 

Whosoever  therefore  shall  be 
ashamed  of   me.— Mark  8;    38. 

I,  if  I  be  lifted  up.... will  draw 
all  men  unto  me.— John  12:  32. 

Whosoever  therefore  shall  confess 
me  before  men.— Matt.  10    32. 

Ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me. — 
Acts  1:  8. 

If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep 
my  words.— John  14:  23. 

To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
paradise  —Luke  23:  43. 


GOD  DWELLING  IN  US. 


Whosoever  shall  confess  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God,  God  dwelleth  in 
him,  and  he  in  God.— 1  John  4:  15. 

I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you  another  Comforter,  that 
he  may  abide  with  you  forever  ;  even  the  Spirit  of  truth  ;  whom  the 
world  cannot  receive,  because  it  seeth  him  not,  neither  knoweth  him  ; 
but  ye  know  him;  for  he  dwelleth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you.— John 
14:  16, 17. 

Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of  God,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
dwelleth  in  you  ?— 1  Cor.  3:  16. 

What !  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
-which  is  in  you  ?-  1  Cor.  6:  19. 

For  ye  are  the  temple  of  the  living  God;  as  God  hath  said,  I  will  dwell 
in  them,  and  walk  in  them. — 2  Cor.  6:  16. 

If  the  Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the  dead  dwell  in  you,  he 
that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead  shall  also  quicken  your  mortal  bodies 
by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in  you, — Rom.  8:  11. 

And  hereby  we  know  that  he  abideth  in  us,  by  the  Spirit  which  he  hath 
given  us. — 1  John  8:  24. 

Hereby  know  we  that  we  dwell  in  him,  and  he  in  us  ;  because  he  hath 
given  us  of  his  Spirit.— 1  John  4:  13. 

Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  e7>en  unto  the  end  of  the  world. — Matt.  28: 20. 

As  thou  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in 
us.— John  17:  21.  I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me.— John  17;  23.  That  the 
love  wherewith  thou  hast  loved  me  may  be  in  them,  and  I  in  them.— 
John  17:  26. 

I  am  in  my  Father;  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in  you.— John  14:  20. 

If  a  man  love  me,  he  will  keep  my  words  :  and  my  Father  will  love  him, 
and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make  our  abode  with  him. — John  14:  28. 


BELIEVERS  SAVED. 


He  that  believeth  on  me  hath  everlasting  life.— John  6:  47.  I  give  unto 
them  eternal  life;  and  they  shall  never  perish.— John  10:  28.  Because  I 
live,  ye  shall  live  also. — John  14:  19. 

He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life. — John  3:  86.  And 
shall  not  come  into  condemnation;  but  is  passed  from  death  unto  life. — 
John  5:  24. 

Whosoever  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ  is  bom  of  God.— 1  John 
5:  1.  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of  God.— 1  John  8:  2.  We  know 
that  we  have  passed  from  death  unto  life. — 1  John  3:  14. 

And  this  is  the  record,  that  God  bath  given  to  us  eternal  life.  These 
things  have  I  written  unto  you  that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of 
God;  that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life. — 1  John  5:  11,  13. 

Giving  thanks  unto  the  Father,  which  hath  made  us  meet  to  be  par- 
takers of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light;  who  hath  delivered  us  from 
the  power  of  darkness,  and  hath  translated  us  into  the  kingdom  of  his 
dear  Son ;  in  whom  we  have  redemption  through  his  blo<xi.  evgn-  the- 
forgiveness  of  sins.— CoL  1 :   lt-14.    See  Horn.  8  :   1,  88,  39 ;  5,rt. 


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